Kidnapped Makurdi University Students Regain Freedom

The kidnapped female students of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi, JoSTUM, formerly known as the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, FUAM, have been set free by their captors after spending eight days in captivity.

It should be recalled that the three students, identified as Susan, Emmanuella, and Fola, were abducted on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, while they were on campus heading to a lecture hall to study, by unidentified armed men.

Their kidnapping sparked strong outrage from fellow students as well as members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, JoSTUM branch, who insisted on their immediate release.

As a result of the incident, the university management decided to close the institution indefinitely until the security situation within the school was resolved.

Reports indicate that the students were released at approximately 9pm on Wednesday night, following more than a week in captivity.

A family friend of one of the students, who confirmed their release, mentioned that the girls were promptly taken for medical examination and rehabilitation.

She stated, “I can confirm that the three girls have been released. They regained their freedom at about 9pm Wednesday and they have been moved to a medical facility for proper medical check up and rehabilitation because their captors took them far into the forest and they should be given proper medical attention because they are also traumatised.”

However, attempts to obtain official confirmation from the Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent, CSP, Catherine Anene, were not successful.