The whereabouts of one student of the Departments of Medicine and Surgery and two of Genetics and Biotechnology of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) in Nigeria’s Cross River State abducted by suspected gunmen is unknown.
Though the police in the state and Vice Chancellor of the institution had confirmed the abduction, they could not give clue to the whereabouts of the students as the kidnappers are yet to call their relations.
It was gathered that the armed men stormed Freedom Hostel, owned by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) around 7 p.m. on Friday, March 29, 2024 and whisked the victims away to an unknown destination.
You may also read
- Double jeopardy for Embattled UNICAL Professor
- Two Unical Students in Police Net Over Internet Fraud
- DSS Busts Kidnappers’ ring, arraigns four in Akwa Ibom
The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof Florence Banku Obi, who confirmed the abduction on Sunday, gave the names of the students as Ojang Precious Ebejin, a 200-level student of the Department of Medicine and Surgery, Ugwu Chukwuemeka, a 300-level student of the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, and Damilola Dickson, a final-year student of the same Department.
Three abducted UNICAL students
Spokesperson of the State Police Command, SP Irene Ugbo, also confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday, saying that the police were working in collaboration with other agencies to rescue the students.
Ugbo said the students were abducted on Thursday night at one of the university’s hostels inside the campus but did not provide further information.
According to the police spokesman, “the police are working in collaboration with other agencies to rescue the students.”
Sources from the University confirmed that the offices of the Special Assistant Students’ Affairs and the Special Assistant Students’ Orientation to the Governor of Cross River State, the Student Union Government (SUG), and law enforcement agencies, have commenced a comprehensive investigation into the incident and see how they can rescue the victims unhurt.
