In a brazen attack on Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTEC) in Osara, Okene, Kogi State, bandits struck Thursday night, plunging the campus into chaos and abducting several students. Eyewitnesses recount a terrifying scene as armed assailants stormed the university around 9:00 p.m., disrupting students’ exam preparations and instilling fear among the academic community.
According to reports, the bandits, arriving through the bush, targeted three lecture halls where students were studying for their upcoming exams. With gunfire ringing out, they trapped students inside the halls, creating a scene of panic and confusion. While security personnel engaged the attackers, their swift intervention prevented further casualties, though some students were still taken captive.
The timing of the attack, just days before the commencement of first-semester examinations scheduled for Monday, May 13, adds a distressing dimension to the ordeal for students already under pressure to prepare for their tests. One student, speaking anonymously, described the harrowing experience of hiding in the bush for over an hour until the coast was clear.
CUSTEC’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdulraman Asipita, confirmed the incident but refrained from providing specific details regarding the number of students abducted, emphasizing that the university administration is actively addressing the situation. However, efforts to obtain further information from Kogi’s Commissioner of Police and the State Security Adviser were unsuccessful, underscoring the gravity of the security situation and the challenges in responding to such incidents.
As the university community grapples with the aftermath of this brazen attack, concerns mount over the safety and well-being of the abducted students and the broader implications for campus security. The incident underscores the urgent need for enhanced security measures and proactive strategies to safeguard educational institutions against criminal incursions, ensuring the safety of students, faculty, and staff.
Thank you for highlighting this important issue.
An excellent synthesis of ideas.