The Enugu State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of three students from the State College of Health Technology, Oji-River, located in the Oji-River Local Government Area. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening, raising concerns among local residents.
In a video circulating online, residents expressed alarm over the kidnapping, accusing the college authorities of remaining silent about the situation. The video, which quickly went viral, fueled anxiety and speculations about the scale of the abduction.
According to eyewitnesses, armed men, suspected to be herdsmen, stormed the college premises around 7:30 PM, forcibly taking the students. The incident prompted immediate action from the Enugu State Police.
In a statement released on Saturday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed the kidnapping but clarified that only three students were taken, contrary to the claims made in the viral video. He also revealed that two of the abducted students have been rescued, while efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining three.
“Contrary to the misleading information in the viral video, police operatives from the Oji-River Division swiftly responded to reports of the abduction at the college on August 15, 2024. Two students were successfully rescued during the operation, while three others are still unaccounted for. Intensive search and rescue operations are underway to find the missing students and apprehend the perpetrators,” DSP Ndukwe stated.
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He further explained that the preliminary investigation indicates the students were targeted while driving out of the college when the incident occurred.
The Enugu State Commissioner of Police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, has directed the police operatives to leave no stone unturned in their efforts to rescue the missing students and bring the culprits to justice. He also urged the public to disregard exaggerated reports on social media that could incite unnecessary panic and disrupt ongoing police operations.
This incident underscores the growing security concerns in the region, with authorities working tirelessly to ensure the safe return of the abducted students and restore peace to the community.
