The Enugu State Police Command has verified the abduction of three students from the Enugu State College of Health Technology, located in the Oji-River local government area. This follows reports that initially, five students were taken.
Earlier, SaharaReporters disclosed the abduction of three students from the college on Friday. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday evening, sparked fear and anxiety among students and nearby residents, prompting many to flee the school premises.
Witnesses from the college revealed that armed men, suspected to be kidnappers, stormed the students’ hostel around 7 p.m. on Wednesday, capturing the students without any resistance.
In an official statement released Saturday night, Enugu Police Command spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed the abduction. He added that two of the students have been rescued, but three remain unaccounted for. Ndukwe also addressed a viral video circulating on social media that claimed a large number of students had been abducted, dismissing it as false and a deliberate attempt to spread panic and misinformation.
The police statement clarified, “Contrary to the false narrative in the viral video, on the evening of August 15, 2024, officers from the Oji-River Division responded to reports of an abduction near the college. Upon arrival, they successfully rescued two of the victims, while three others remain missing. Efforts are ongoing to find and rescue them, as well as to apprehend the perpetrators.”
Preliminary investigations indicate that the victims were targeted as they were leaving the college premises when the abduction occurred.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, has instructed the officers to intensify their efforts to locate and rescue the missing students and to ensure that those responsible for the crime are brought to justice. The commissioner also warned against spreading false information on social media, emphasizing that such actions could create unnecessary fear and hinder police operations and investigations.
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