Nasarawa Federal University: Three Students Kidnapped from Off-Campus Lodge

The Nasarawa State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has initiated a comprehensive search operation following the abduction of three students from the Federal University of Lafia. The students were reportedly taken from their off-campus accommodation.

Sources indicate the incident took place at approximately 8:45 p.m. on Saturday at Sure Leaders Lodge, situated in the Bukan Kwato area, close to the university premises. Speaking from Lafia, the state capital, on Tuesday, Police Public Relations Officer for the state, SP Ramhan Nansel, confirmed that a manhunt is underway. The objective is to ensure the safe return of the victims and to apprehend those responsible for the kidnapping.

SP Nansel stated that while no arrests have been made thus far, significant efforts are being exerted to secure the students' release. He added, “So far, no arrest has been made, but efforts are ongoing to ensure their safe release. Though there are underground works that has been done on the pipeline, so we expect to get them released soon. We have some people (suspects) we have pencilled down who have been recognised, but we are waiting for confirmation. But with what is going on, they will soon be out of that place.”

An anonymous student from the institution corroborated the details, confirming the abduction occurred around 8:45 p.m. on Saturday at the Sure Leaders Lodge in Bukan Kwato. The student further revealed that all the victims are first-year (100-level) students of the university. Expressing grave concern, the student remarked, “They are all 100-level students of the university. The issue of kidnapping in this environment has become a thing of great concern. We are urging the government to help us out of the situation by deploying enough security personnel around the university because we are now becoming scared to sleep with our two eyes closed.”

This abduction marks the latest in a series of security incidents affecting students of the Federal University of Lafia, intensifying worries among students and their parents regarding safety in off-campus hostels. When contacted, officials within the Information Unit of the Federal University of Lafia stated they were unaware of the kidnapping report but acknowledged a separate attack on a female student. As of the time this report was filed, the management of the Federal University of Lafia had not released an official statement concerning the incident.