Benue State Police Command has verified the abduction of two female students from Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi.
Confirming the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Sewuese Anene, informed the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi on Wednesday.
The abduction occurred around 11:00 pm along North Bank/Uniagric Road, not within the university campus, as clarified by Anene. Unknown gunmen reportedly blocked the road, seized the victims, and fled before law enforcement could intervene.
Anene disclosed that the assailants also commandeered the victims’ vehicle along with its occupants. Both the affected families and the university have notified the police, and investigations are underway.
Although one of the students belongs to the Biology Education department, details about the other victim remain undisclosed, according to NAN’s investigation. A university insider revealed that a man picked up the students on campus and later another woman en route to North Bank town before the abduction occurred.
Initially mistaken for a robbery, the incident turned out to be a kidnapping after the perpetrators contacted the students’ families. Despite attempts to reach out to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Itodo, and the university’s information unit, no response was received via calls or text messages.