In a bold and high-stakes operation, the Edo State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has successfully rescued ten university students who were abducted by suspected herdsmen while en route to Babcock University for the Annual GYC Africa Conference.
The students—members of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church Campus Fellowship from Rivers State University and Ignatius Ajuru University of Education—were travelling in a commercial bus when tragedy struck. Their journey was violently interrupted along the Benin-Okada Road in Ugbogui, near Ohosu in Edo State, when armed attackers ambushed them.
According to eyewitness reports, the assailants opened fire on the bus, shooting two students and forcing the others into the surrounding forest. Chaos ensued as terrified students scattered into the bush, many sustaining injuries and becoming temporarily unaccounted for. Ten were forcefully taken by the gunmen.
Initially believed to have occurred in Ofosu, Ondo State, the Ondo State Police Command later clarified that the attack actually took place within Edo territory. DSP Ayanlade Olayinka Olushola, spokesperson for the Ondo State Police, confirmed the harrowing abduction but corrected the geographical location of the incident.
The breakthrough came on Friday when the Edo State Police Command, led by Commissioner of Police CP Monday Agbonika, launched a tactical rescue operation. Spokesperson SP Moses Yamu announced that the police engaged the kidnappers in a fierce gunfight that ended with the death of one assailant, while others fled with bullet wounds.
“The Command wishes to update the general public on the unfortunate kidnapping of some students who were on their way to attend the Babcock University Annual GYC Africa Conference,” SP Yamu stated.
The operation culminated in the safe rescue of all ten abducted students—eight males and two females. However, the bravery of the security forces came at a cost: one police inspector sustained a gunshot wound and is currently receiving medical attention.
Commissioner Agbonika, in his response to the incident, issued a stern warning to criminal elements operating within Edo State.
“This operation sends a clear message: there is no hiding place for criminals in Edo. We urge all miscreants to turn away from their evil ways or be prepared to face the full wrath of the law,” the Commissioner declared.
The rescue mission stands as a testament to the Nigerian Police Force’s commitment to safeguarding lives and restoring public confidence amid rising concerns over insecurity across the country.
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