A bus carrying students mainly of Abia State University, Uturu, were hijacked by unknown gunmen along the Okigwe road in Imo State.
According to the reports, the bus was on its way back to Okigwe when they encountered the hoodlums at the road at about 7-8 pm.
Following the development, the Abia State Government have said that it was monitoring the situation and will make sure the criminal elements are caught.
It was also gathered that two students escaped from the grasp of the kidnappers while others were taken to an unidentified place.
Below is the press release by the Abia State Commissioner of Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu;
Press Release
Abia State Government is currently monitoring an incident that happened in Okigwe, Imo State, yesterday which led to the suspected abduction of yet to be determined number of students of the Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU), who apparently ran into a yet to be identified gang of hoodlums operating along the Okigwe-Uturu Road.
Preliminary information available to us indicates that the students were moving in a mini van from Okigwe to Uturu between 7pm – 8pm when they ran into the armed gang who marched them into the nearby forest along with other yet to be identified travelers. Two of the students managed to escape from the hoodlums while others are still being held at a yet to be identified location.
We are working with the government of Imo State and relevant security agencies in both states to ensure the rescue of the abducted students and others.
Members of the public and ABSU community are advised to remain calm as we will spare no resource in ensuring the safety of the victims.
No criminal operating within our environment will be allowed to escape justice as we take the job of protecting lives and property of Abians and visitors to the State very seriously
Thank you.
Chief John Okiyi Kalu
Honorable Commissioner for Information, Abia State
06/05/2021
