A 100-level female student of Plateau State University (PLASU), Bokkos, Favour Ayuba, has regained her freedom after her abductors abandoned her during a joint security operation.
Ms Ayuba was abducted on Saturday night, 31 October, from an off-campus residential area in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State. Another person sustained gunshot injuries during the attack.
The university’s Acting Public Relations Officer, Masara Kim, confirmed her release. He said the abductors fled after security personnel advanced towards their location.
“She was abandoned by her captors after the university, in collaboration with a joint security team, launched an operation that forced them to flee on sighting the advancing team,” Kim said.
The student was later taken to hospital for medical checks and treatment.
Security sources had earlier disclosed that troops of Sector 5, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), deployed to the university, received information about her release at about 7:20 p.m. on Sunday, 1 November.
The university said it was working with security agencies to strengthen safety measures within and around the institution. Kim also praised the security personnel for their response, which led to the student’s recovery.
The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of students living outside the university’s main campus. Reports suggest that it was the second security incident involving off-campus student accommodation within four weeks.
A university staff member, who spoke anonymously because he was not authorised to comment publicly, said management was worried about the threats facing students outside the campus, despite efforts to provide secure accommodation.
He disclosed that financial constraints limited the university’s hostel capacity to about 1,000 students, despite having nearly 20,000 students.
The university said it would continue to work with relevant authorities to expand accommodation and improve security.
However, some details of the abduction remain unclear. There is no publicly confirmed information on whether ransom was paid, the identity of the suspected abductors or whether anyone has been arrested. The condition of the other person shot during the attack is also unknown.
The police had yet to release further details of the incident.
