A member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Lawal Rofiat Kofoworola, has reportedly been kidnapped on Benin-Ore expressway.
A Facebook user, Agbakwara, on Wednesday confirming the development said that Lawal was returning from Benin, Edo State to report to her place of primary assignment on Tuesday when she was abducted.
Agbakwara noted that the abductors were demanding N20m for her release.
Agbakwara wrote, “My close friend, Lawal Rofiat Kofoworola, was kidnapped on her way from Benin to Ibadan to resume her PPA in Ogbomosho. She managed to call yesterday and told me she was inside an Ore-bound bus when she was taken.
“This is someone who has struggled all her life, supporting herself through university by working at the Dufil company in Benin. Now, kidnappers are demanding ₦20 million, and we don’t know what to do. Her parents are less privileged and can’t afford this.
“I have reported to the NYSC secretariat in Ibadan and dropped her call-up number, but there has been no response. We are exhausted and desperate for help!
“Please, Nigerians, I need your support. If there is any way you can assist by spreading this message, reaching the authorities, or any help at all please do. She has been my close friend since my 100 level, and I haven’t been myself since this happened.”
The Oyo State NYSC Coordinator, Odoba Oche, confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation with our correspondent on Thursday.
He stressed that security operatives had been alerted to the situation for necessary action while saying that he was not aware if any ransom had been requested by the abductors.
“Her parents reported the incident to us yesterday. We were not aware of the incident before her parents reported it.
“We have contacted the National Headquarters, the Ondo and Edo states NYSC and we have also alerted security agencies for necessary action. I am not aware if the kidnappers have reached out to demand ransom.
“She went home to Benin without informing the NYSC authority against the instruction of NYSC. NYSC has continued to emphasise to corps members the need to always notify authorities before they travel and to also avoid night travels,” Oche said.
In a related development, the management of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, Benue State, has suspended academic activities following the abduction of three female engineering students late Tuesday night on the university campus.
Some students of the institution speaking on the development on Wednesday said that the students were abducted while returning from a night study session within the university premises.
While some students claimed that four students were kidnapped, the university management, in a circular obtained by our correspondent, disclosed that three students were abducted.
A 500-level student of Agricultural Extension and Communication, Tsar Christopher, told our correspondent that the abductors emerged from a nearby bush and kidnapped the students.
Christopher said, “On February 25, at approximately 9:30 pm, four 100-level students of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University were kidnapped while heading to study at the Aper Aku Auditorium.
“The incident occurred on the road linking the hostels and the College of Agriculture, Extension, and Communication. The kidnappers emerged from the bushes and took the students away. The victims are believed to be female students.”
Another student of the institution, Ashar Lubem, also claimed that four students were kidnapped by the gunmen, stressing that the incident had left students in a state of panic.
Lubem said, “Some gunmen kidnapped four students outside campus yesterday evening. We have yet to hear from them at the moment.
“Everyone is in a panic because of the incident.”
Meanwhile, the university management, in a circular signed by the Registrar, Dr John David, announced a one-week semester break in solidarity with the student community.
The Registrar also instructed students to vacate their hostels by 4 pm on Wednesday.
The circular, titled, “Security Situation on Campus”, read, “Following the unfortunate incident that occurred on campus on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at about 8:00 pm, where unknown armed men abducted three students between Zamfara Hostel and Ring Road in North Core, the University Management, after a series of consultative meetings with security agencies and stakeholders, has resolved as follows:
The Registrar also instructed students to vacate their hostels by 4 pm on Wednesday.
The circular, titled, “Security Situation on Campus”, read, “Following the unfortunate incident that occurred on campus on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at about 8:00 pm, where unknown armed men abducted three students between Zamfara Hostel and Ring Road in North Core, the University Management, after a series of consultative meetings with security agencies and stakeholders, has resolved as follows:
“That the university management condemns the incident in its entirety; that the government and security agencies have been duly informed of the unfortunate incident; that all staff, students, and the general public are enjoined to remain calm as security agencies are working tirelessly to secure the release of the abducted students; that the inaugural lecture scheduled for today (February 26, 2025) is postponed indefinitely; and that the university management, in solidarity with the students and parents of the abducted students, has granted a one-week mid-semester break to all students to adequately address the security challenges on campus.
“Consequently, all students are to vacate their hostels before 4:00 pm today, Wednesday, February 26, 2025.”
She, however, stated that the police had only received a report of two students being kidnapped.
“We received information yesterday evening that two students were kidnapped. We have commenced an investigation, and further details will be provided soon,” Anene said.
In response to the incident, the Chairman of Makurdi Local Government, Joseph Keffi, directed the deployment of security operatives to the university to enhance security.
In a statement signed by his media aide, Teran Aondona, Keffi also urged the university management to enforce the mandatory use of student identification cards.
The statement read, “The Executive Chairman of Makurdi Local Government, Joseph Keffi, after interfacing with the Vice-Chancellor of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University following the alleged kidnapping of students on campus, has directed the immediate deployment of security personnel to the university premises.
“The Chairman gave the directive today at the University Vice-Chancellor’s Lodge, stressing that security patrols on the campus have been intensified.
“Hon. Keffi also urged the university management to enforce the mandatory use of student identification cards, stating that this would help in identifying non-students and potential perpetrators on campus.”
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Academic Union of Universities, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University chapter, Comrade Paul Anyagh, has raised the alarm about the safety of his members on campus.
In the statement on Wednesday, Anyagh said the abduction of the three students had shown the porous security nature of the university.
He said, “With what has happened, the union is not sure that its members will be safe on campus given that this incident is one too many.
“In the past, a member of our union was kidnapped at the university staff quarters. Although he was later released, it went to show the porous security nature of our campus.
“Also, we have had cases of kidnap of students in the past on our campus, and given this circumstance, the union is no longer sure of the security of her members for the discharge of their legitimate duties.”
