Nine University Students Kidnapped in Kogi State, Nigeria

Kogi State, Central Nigeria - In a disturbing escalation of violence, nine university students have been kidnapped from the Confluence University of Science and Technology in Kogi State. The attack occurred late Thursday night as the students were preparing for upcoming examinations.

According to local reports, the gunmen stormed into the classrooms, firing shots sporadically into the air to cause panic before abducting a group of students. The exact number of kidnapped students remains uncertain, with fears that it could be higher than the initial count.

The Kogi State government has confirmed the kidnapping and is actively coordinating a robust search and rescue operation.

A statement from the state government revealed that "hundreds of local hunters, who understand the terrain, as well as conventional security agents, are currently combing the area to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted students."

This incident is part of a troubling rise in kidnappings across Nigeria, where hundreds of people, including children, have been taken captive in recent months. In many cases, families of the victims have reported being forced to pay ransoms amounting to thousands of dollars for their release.

The frequent abductions have sparked widespread concern and calls for enhanced security measures to protect educational institutions and other vulnerable targets. The situation in Kogi State highlights the ongoing challenges facing Nigeria in addressing security and maintaining public safety amidst an increasing trend of violent crimes.