Military operatives allegedly invaded the Oro Ago Divisional Police headquarters in Kwara State on Sunday and forcefully took custody of rescued students of the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) in Kogi State.
These students had been abducted by bandits while they were studying at the school premises for their examinations.
After some students were killed and others rescued, the last group of eight students rescued were brought to the police station for debriefing.
However, in what seems like both the police and the army trying to take credit for rescuing the eight abducted students, the police are alleging that the army forcefully ejected the students from their custody.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi (DSP) in a statement on Sunday, said the soldiers arrived, overpowered the police, and took the students away. He described the act as “disrespectful” and “Total unacceptable”.
“While making preparations for their onward movement to Ilorin, soldiers on convoy patrol with three operational vehicles stormed the station, overpowered the police operatives and forcefully took custody of the rescued students without proper handing over,” he narrated.
“This act is disrespectful to the force, totally unacceptable. The behaviour of the soldiers is likened to act(s) unbecoming of an officer. And necessary actions will be taken to report their conduct to the higher authority”, he stated.
Meanwhile, a statement from the Nigerian Army, posted on its official X handle on Sunday, reported that troops on a clearance operation rescued the kidnapped students in a dense forest near Oro Ago village in Kwara State.
The statement detailed that the troops discovered the students’ location through a swift and thorough search of the surrounding forests and villages. The search was focused along the Gbugu, Pategi, and Oro Ago axis, including areas such as Babasango and Babanla.
The army said that the troops detected the movement of the terrorists as they attempted to relocate their hostages. As the troops approached, the terrorists abandoned the students and fled into the forest.
The statement added that the rescued students have been safely evacuated and handed over to the authorities of Kogi State Government for further action and reunion with their families.
News Central reports that the rescued eight students – 5 females and 3 males – were identified as Damisa Rashidat Ometere, 17, Omojo Godwin, 19, Ahmed Tijani Fatimah, 21, Oloruntoba Blessing Kemisola, 23, Musa Oseni, 19, Obakachi Mashkurah Onyioyiza, 17, Anate Hanifat Oyiza, 19, and Abdulrafiu Abdulmalik Enesi, 19.