Gunmen abducted five female students from a university in the northwestern Katsina state of Nigeria on Wednesday, marking the second such incident in the region within a month, according to police reports.
Kidnappings for ransom, carried out by armed criminal groups, have become increasingly common in northwest Nigeria.
These criminal activities are often attributed to the prevalence of poverty, unemployment, and the widespread availability of illegal firearms in the region.
Katsina police spokesperson Abubakar Sadiq confirmed the abduction, stating, “The police have deployed all its tactical and operational assets with a view to rescuing the victims unhurt.” He further noted that one suspect is already in custody.
This incident follows a similar occurrence on September 22, when at least 24 female students were abducted from their hostel at the Federal University Gusau in Zamfara state.
Sixteen of the kidnapped students were successfully freed three days later following a rescue operation conducted by security forces.
- Reporting by Ahmed Kingimi; Writing by Elisha Bala-Gbogbo; Editing by Adewale Adejoke
