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Gunmen Kidnap 19 in Rivers, Imo — Including 5 University Students and 14 Bus Passengers
At least 19 people were abducted in separate attacks across Rivers and Imo states on Tuesday, further heightening concerns over the escalating insecurity in parts of the country.
The incidents occurred on the same day the House of Representatives urged the federal government to fish out and prosecute those responsible for last week’s killing of five policemen in Bauchi State. It also came less than 24 hours after President Bola Tinubu accepted the resignation of Defence Minister Abubakar Badaru and nominated former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, to replace him. The president thereafter met with security chiefs to review the security situation.
5 RSU Students Abducted in Rivers
In Rivers State, suspected cultists kidnapped five students of the Rivers State University (RSU), Emohua Satellite Campus, in the early hours of Tuesday.
The victims were seized from their off-campus lodges in Emuoha, Emohua Local Government Area, despite recent protests by students over worsening insecurity.
An eyewitness and student who escaped the attack said the gunmen invaded the residence around 2am and shot the security dog before abducting the students.
“He was running after me and even fired at me… I don’t know how many shots. Some of our students, about four or so, are missing now,” the student recounted.
Rivers police spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the abduction, identifying the attackers as cultists.
“In the early hours of Tuesday, a group of five cultists stormed an isolated area of Rumuchi/Rumuohia, fired shots and abducted five persons to an unknown location,” she said.
She added that the Commissioner of Police had deployed tactical teams to rescue the victims.
Students had last week urged RSU management to relocate them to the Port Harcourt campus, citing harassment and attacks by armed groups. However, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, had dismissed plans for relocation, insisting the institution was engaging community actors and security agencies to strengthen safety.
Gunmen Hijack Bus, Abduct 14 in Imo
In a separate incident in Imo State, gunmen suspected to be herdsmen hijacked a commercial bus travelling from Owerri to Aba on Monday evening at Ngor Okpala, abducting 14 passengers.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers emerged from the bush, shot sporadically, and took control of the bus, causing chaos as motorists abandoned their vehicles and fled in panic.
“They came out of the bush and started shooting, then kidnapped passengers in a full bus,” a witness said.
The area has experienced similar attacks in the past. In May 2025, suspected herders abducted about 18 passengers on the same route, while more than 20 travellers were reportedly kidnapped weeks later.
Imo police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, said the latest incident had yet to be formally reported.
For information on Press Releases, Photos, Promotional Events and Adverts, Please message us on WhatsApp via (+234) 09052129258, 08124662170 or send an email to: info@educeleb.com.“Nevertheless, the Commissioner of Police has deployed tactical units on fact-finding patrols along the Owerri–Aba Express Road,” he said.
