Abducted Katsina student freed, three others remain missing

One of the four students abducted by gunmen from the Federal University Dutsin-Ma has been rescued, while efforts continue to secure the release of the remaining three.

Security expert Zagazola Makama revealed this in a post shared on X.com on Monday.

According to Makama, the other students include Adewale Bolaji Ajayi, 23, from the Department of Computer Science; Emmanuel Michael, 24; and Favour Michael, 22, both from the Department of Food Management Science.

The four students, residing in the Paris Quarters area of Dutsinma, Katsina State, were reportedly abducted by suspected gunmen.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the incident took place around 2:20 a.m. on Sunday when armed suspects, which an unnamed eyewitness said to be wielding AK-47 rifles, stormed the area and abducted the students.

Attempts to confirm the incident from the state police command’s spokesperson, Abubakar Aliyu, were unsuccessful as he neither answered calls nor responded to messages from our correspondent regarding the abduction as of the time of filing the report.

However, a video obtained from the Facebook page of Lady P’s Blog on Sunday showed students of the school expressing shock and distress as they captured the aftermath of the attack and abduction.

One of the students, speaking in Pidgin, said, “God, they have abducted these people. Kidnappers have abducted them.” As the students continued to express shock over the incident, broken windows and doors of some apartments were visible.

Announcing the rescue of one of the four students on X.com on Monday, Makama wrote, “Sources said troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA are sustaining efforts to locate and rescue the three others still in captivity.

“They are Adewale Bolaji Ajayi, 23, of the Department of Computer Science; Emmanuel Michael, 24; and Favour Michael, 22, both of the Department of Food Management Science.

“The students, all in their first year, were abducted on Saturday when armed men stormed their residence in Dutsin-Ma.

“Security operatives are reportedly tracking the movements of the kidnappers as efforts to secure the safe return of the remaining students continue.”

PUNCH Metro reports that this is the second attack on the university, following the abduction of five female students by terrorists on October 3, 2023.

While one escaped after a few days, the remaining four female students were freed 74 days later.