Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a 100-level female student of Plateau State University (PLASU), Bokkos, and shot another person during an attack on an off-campus residential area in Plateau State.
The incident happened at about 8:40pm on Saturday in Bokkos Local Government Area, raising fresh concerns about the safety of students living outside the university campus.
A student, who spoke to journalists in Jos on Sunday on condition of anonymity, confirmed the abduction. He said the victim had gone out with another female student when the attackers seized her.
“Yes, the student was taken away by the attackers last night, and we have not seen her since then. She lives off-campus, but I don’t know her personally,” the student said.
He expressed concern over the growing insecurity in the area and urged security agencies to ensure the student’s safe rescue.
A university staff member, who also requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly, said the institution was aware of the shooting.
“The university is aware of a reported shooting incident in one of the off-campus student residential areas. This would be the second such incident in four weeks,” he said.
He stressed that although the attack did not happen within the university premises, the management remained concerned about threats to students living outside the campus.
The staff member said the administration of Professor Shadrack Best had made efforts to provide safe accommodation for students within the university.
However, financial challenges have limited the institution’s capacity to house students, with its dormitories currently accommodating only about 1,000 people.
He also acknowledged the support of Plateau State Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, the university’s Visitor, and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in providing important infrastructure.
The university said it would continue working with relevant authorities to expand accommodation and improve security for its nearly 20,000 students.
Efforts to reach the Plateau State Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Alfred Alabo, for comments were unsuccessful as of the time of filing the report.
