Tension has gripped residents of Gudi in Nasarawa State following the abduction of several students by gunmen who attacked an off-campus lodge in the community.
The victims were reportedly kidnapped on Tuesday night from a students’ residence located in Anguwar Ninzo, on the outskirts of Gudi in Akwanga Local Government Area.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Nasarawa State Police Command, Ramhan Nansel, said the assailants invaded the lodge around 9pm before taking away some occupants to an undisclosed location.
According to him, six of the abducted persons are students of the Faculty of Engineering, Gudi Campus of Nasarawa State University, while another victim was said to have visited one of the students before the attack occurred.
Following the development, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Shetima Jauro Mohammed, visited the area to assess the situation and reassure residents of ongoing rescue efforts.
The police commissioner stated that security agencies were committed to ensuring the safe return of the victims and tracking down those responsible for the abduction.
He added that the Area Commander in Akwanga had been redeployed to supervise operations in the area pending the outcome of the rescue mission.
The command further disclosed that a joint security operation involving the police, Department of State Services, military personnel, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, vigilante groups and other tactical units had been launched to comb nearby forests and communities in search of the abductors.
Residents were urged to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies by providing useful information that could aid ongoing rescue efforts and investigations.