Three Abducted FUAM Students Regain Freedom in Benue

Three female students of the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi (FUAM), now Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi (JOSTUM), have regained their freedom after being held hostage by kidnappers, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, CP Hassan Yabanet, has confirmed.

According to a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), CSP Catherine Anene, the students were released at 9:30 pm on Wednesday and are currently receiving medical treatment at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi.

The commissioner provided details of the police efforts leading to the students’ release:

On February 26, 2025, at about 9:34 pm, the police received a report that students had been kidnapped within the school premises by unknown persons.
A special police team was immediately deployed for investigation and intelligence gathering.
On March 5, 2025, at about 9:34 pm, following a continuous trail of the kidnappers, the victims were successfully released.
CP Yabanet commended all officers involved in the rescue operation, including the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team from Abuja and other security agencies in Benue State.

He further assured that the perpetrators of the heinous crime would be brought to justice, as investigations remain ongoing.

The kidnapping of university students has become a growing concern in Nigeria, with schools, especially in the North, frequently targeted by criminal elements. The latest incident underscores the urgent need for enhanced security measures in tertiary institutions across the country.

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