MAKURDI:In a state of panic, Lubem, a student, shared the shocking news, stating, Some gunmen kidnapped four students off-campus yesterday evening. We haven’t heard anything from them yet. The incident has caused widespread fear, with many students on edge.
In response to the alarming situation, the university’s management issued a circular signed by the Registrar, Dr. John David, announcing a one-week semester break in solidarity with the student body. The circular also directed all students to vacate their hostels by 4 pm on Wednesday.
The communication, titled “Security Situation on Campus,” detailed the incident, which occurred on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, around 8:00 pm. Armed men abducted three students between Zamfara Hostel and Ring Road in North Core.
Following consultations with security agencies and other stakeholders, the university management condemned the act and assured the public that efforts were underway to secure the release of the victims.
The circular stated, “The University Management condemns this unfortunate incident in the strongest terms. The relevant government and security agencies have been informed, and they are working tirelessly to ensure the safe return of the abducted students.
All staff, students, and the general public are urged to remain calm while security forces intensify their efforts. It also announced the indefinite postponement of the inaugural lecture scheduled for February 26, 2025. The university, in a show of solidarity, granted all students a one-week mid-semester break to address the growing security concerns on campus.
The Registrar’s announcement included a directive for all students to leave their hostels by 4 pm on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.
The Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, Sewuese Anene, confirmed the kidnapping, speaking to a correspondent via phone. “We received information yesterday evening about two students being kidnapped. An investigation has already been launched, and more details will be provided soon,” Anene said.
Meanwhile, Makurdi Local Government Chairman Joseph Keffi responded to the incident by ordering the deployment of additional security personnel to the university to bolster campus safety. In a statement signed by his media aide, Teran Aondona, Keffi assured that security patrols on campus had been intensified.
He also urged the university to enforce the mandatory use of student identification cards, emphasizing that this measure could help identify non-students and possible perpetrators on campus.
“The Executive Chairman of Makurdi Local Government, Joseph Keffi, after meeting with the Vice-Chancellor of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University regarding the kidnapping, has directed immediate deployment of security personnel to the university. He stressed the importance of intensified security patrols on the campus, the statement read.
Also, Comrade Paul Anyagh, Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, expressed concerns about the safety of faculty members.
In a statement on Wednesday, Anyagh highlighted the porous security on campus, pointing to the abduction of the three students as evidence of the vulnerability of the university’s security infrastructure.
“This incident raises serious concerns. The union is no longer confident about the safety of its members on campus. We’ve experienced similar cases in the past, including the kidnapping of a union member at the university staff quarters.
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Although he was later released, this event underscored the weak security at the university. Previous cases of student kidnappings further reinforce our concern about the security situation, Anyagh stated.
Report shows that over 20 medical and dental students, along with a house officer, were kidnapped by gunmen in Benue State, highlighting the ongoing security challenges in the region.
