Bandits stormed the Confluence University of Science and Technology in Osara, Okene, Kogi State, on Thursday night, instigating panic and chaos as they abducted several students.
Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers descended on the campus around 9 pm, catching students off guard as they were engrossed in studying for their upcoming exams.
According to accounts from the scene, the bandits infiltrated the university premises through the surrounding bushes, launching their assault by firing shots into the air.
This intimidation tactic sent waves of fear rippling through the students, who found themselves trapped inside lecture halls as the assailants advanced.
“They trapped the students inside the halls and started taking them; the school was thrown into total confusion as fear-stricken students in other halls scurried to safety, scampering in various directions.
“By the time local security guards and the conventional security men at the gate engaged the bandits, they had already succeeded in abducting some students.
“But the efforts minimised the damage as the attackers didn’t go beyond the first three halls,” the source said.
In the midst of the chaos, security personnel scrambled to confront the invaders, but their efforts were initially met with limited success.
Despite engaging the bandits, a number of students were forcibly taken captive before the assailants could be repelled.
However, the swift response from security forces managed to confine the attack to the vicinity of the first three lecture halls, averting further harm to the student body.
One student, who requested anonymity, recounted the harrowing experience of seeking refuge in the nearby bushes for over an hour, waiting for the assailants to retreat before emerging cautiously from hiding.
“We only ventured out when everywhere became quiet,” he said.
When contacted for comment, the Vice Chancellor of CUSTEC, Prof. Abdulraman Asipita, acknowledged the incident while withholding specific details regarding the number of students abducted.
While declining to engage with journalists on the matter, Prof. Asipita reassured the public that measures were being taken to address the situation and ensure the safety of the university community.
“I don’t talk to journalists on incidents like this, but I want you to know that we are on top of the situation,” he said.