Kidnappers Demand N40 Million Ransom for Abducted JoSTUM Students, Threaten Harm as Protests Erupt, University Shuts Down, and ActionAid Calls for Urgent Government Intervention
Abductors of female students from Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi (JoSTUM), have demanded a N40 million ransom for their release. A source close to one of the victims, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the kidnappers have begun contacting the families, threatening harm if the ransom is not paid swiftly.
The students were kidnapped on campus around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday while heading to a lecture hall. Their abduction sparked outrage, leading to protests by fellow students and prompting the university management to shut down the institution for a week to address security concerns.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), JoSTUM chapter, has condemned the kidnapping, joining calls for the students’ immediate and unconditional release.
Meanwhile, ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) has strongly criticized the rising wave of student abductions nationwide. In a statement, AAN Country Director Andrew Mamedu decried the increasing attacks on schools, likening them to past mass abductions, including the Chibok and Dapchi girls. He warned that persistent insecurity is jeopardizing Nigeria’s education system and called on the federal government to take decisive action to protect students.
AAN urged security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the abducted students and implement stronger intelligence and community-led security measures to prevent future attacks. The organization emphasized that the safety of students must be a national priority, warning that continued inaction threatens the future of education in Nigeria.
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, have demanded a N40 million ransom for their release. A source close to one of the victims, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the kidnappers have begun contacting the families, threatening harm if the ransom is not paid swiftly.){kind=link}