The Nigeria Police has explained the “drama” on Sunday at Oro Ago Divisional Police headquarters in Kwara State when soldiers invaded the station and forcefully moved out rescued students of Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, Kogi State.
Gunmen had on May 9, 2024 invaded the university and abducted the students who were preparing for their examinations. While two were killed in captivity, others were rescued at intervals. The last set of eight students were rescued this weekend.
However, while the Police moved the students to its station “to debrief them,” soldiers stormed the station and allegedly forcefully took them away.
The students – 5 females and 3 males – were identified as Anate Hanifat Oyiza, 19; Damisa Rashidat Ometere, 17; Ahmed Tijani Fatimah, 21; Obakachi Mashkurah Onyioyiza, 17; Oloruntoba Blessing Kemisola, 23; Omojo Godwin, 19; Abdulrafiu Abdulmalik Enesi, 19; and Musa Oseni, 19.
The victims who had remained in the captivity of bandits were rescued in Aro-Ago forest, Ifelodun Local Government Area (LGA) of the State.
In a statement on Sunday evening, the Kwara State Police Command described the action of the soldiers “as disrespectful and totally unacceptable.”
According to the statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi (DSP): “The heinous gunmen made their way into Kwara State (from Kogi) with the remainder of the students roaming the forest with the abductees.
“The students were rescued and taken to the Oro Ago Divisional Police headquarters, 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 the station, overpowered 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 behaviour 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.”
However, in a telephone chat with Daily Trust Correspondent on Sunday night, Nigerian Army Public Relations Officer, Stephen Nwankwo, said the rescue team comprised of officers from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Army, local hunters and a police team.
He said the victims were taken to Abuja by the rescue team, emphasising: “It’s not our men here. So I don’t understand how we forcefully took away the victims.
“The abductees were abandoned following the superior firepower from our men and they were being driven away but stopped at a Police checkpoint before they proceeded. There was nothing like forceful overpowering.”
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