The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the army are both taking credit for rescuing eight abducted students of the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, Kogi State.
In a statement issued by the spokesperson of the Kwara State Police Command, DSP Ejire–Adeyemi Toun, on behalf of the state Commissioner of Police, Victor Olaiya, the NPF accused some soldiers of invading its station at Oro Ago, Kwara State to forcefully take custody of the eight rescued students.
The police accused the soldiers of not allowing proper handing over of the students when they over powered the police operatives and forcefully took custody of the rescued students.
“This act is disrespectful to the force; totally unacceptable,” police said in the statement.
Explaining how the eight students were rescued from their kidnappers, the Police spokesperson said they were rescued from kidnappers roaming Kwara forest with the abductees.
She said the rescued students comprised five female and three male students and gave names of the rescued students as;
1. ANATE HANIFAT OYIZA ‘F’ 19YRS.
2.DAMISA RASIDAT OMETERE ‘F’ 17YRS.
3.AHMED TIJANI FATIMAH (F) AGE 21YRS
4.OBAKACHI MASHKURAH ONYIOYIZA ‘F’ 17YRS.
5.OLORUNTOBA BLESSING KEMISOLA ‘F’ 23YRS.
6.OMOJO GODWIN ‘M’ 19YRS.
7.ABDULRAFIU ABDULMALIK ENESI ‘M’ 19YRS and
8. MUSA OSENI ‘M’ 19YRS.
The statement said the prompt action of the state Commissioner of Police, Victor Olaiya, in mobilizing tactical teams from the command alongside tactical teams from the Force Headquarters, Abuja, Police Hi-Tech Intelligence assets, the Military and Local Vigilantes led to the rescue the victims.
Police said the students were rescued and taken to the Divisional Police Headquarters Oro-Ago in Kwara State in preparation for their onward movement to receive medical attention at the state capital Ilorin.
“However, on arrival at the station, the students appeared weak and in dirty clothing. Police operatives provided presentable clothes and breakfast.
“While making preparations for their onward movement to Ilorin, soldiers on convoy patrol with three operational vehicles stormed Oro-Ago police station, over powered the police operatives and forcefully took custody of the rescued students without proper handing over.
“This act is disrespectful to the force; totally unacceptable. The behavior of the soldiers is likened to act(s) unbecoming of an officer. And necessary actions will be taken to report their conduct to the higher authority,” the statement added.
However, a statement by the Nigerian Army posted on its official X handle on Sunday, said troops in a clearance operation intercepted the students in a dense forest near Oro Ago village in the neighbouring Kwara State.
The statement said the troops, during the clearance operation, uncovered the location of the kidnapped students through a swift and comprehensive search of the nearby forests and villages.
The search efforts, according to the statement, were concentrated along the Gbugu, Pategi, and Oro Ago axis, including areas such as Babasango and Babanla.
“Consequently, the troops detected the movement of the terrorists, who were attempting to relocate their hostages. As troops approached the terrorists’ location, the terrorists abandoned the students and fled into the forest.
“The rescued students have been safely evacuated and handed over to the authorities of Kogi State Government for further action and reunion with their families,” the statement added.
The Nigerian Army urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the nearest security agency, as collective efforts are crucial in the fight against terrorism and criminality in the region.