Gunmen Kidnap 5 University Students, 14 Bus Passengers.

Gunman.

No fewer than nineteen people, including five students of Rivers State University, were abducted by gunmen in separate incidents across Rivers and Imo states yesterday.

This happened on the same day the House of Representatives urged the federal government to identify and prosecute those behind last week’s killing of five policemen in a Bauchi community.

Following the resignation of Defence Minister Abubakar Badaru on Monday night, President Bola Tinubu yesterday nominated the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, as the new minister, while meeting with security chiefs over the rising insecurity in the country.

In the Rivers incident, armed men believed to be cultists abducted at least five students of the Rivers State University Emohua Satellite Campus in the early hours of yesterday. The victims were taken from their off-campus accommodation in Emuoha, located in Emohua Local Government Area.

It was gathered that students living off-campus had protested last week over ongoing harassment and attacks by cultists. They had pleaded with the RSU management to relocate them to the Port Harcourt main campus for their safety.

However, during a pre-convocation briefing on Monday, Vice Chancellor Prof Isaac Zeb-Obipi dismissed the idea of shutting the campus or relocating students, explaining that the university was addressing security issues through discussions with community leaders, local authorities and security agencies.

A student who escaped the attack, and asked not to be named, said the gunmen stormed their residence around 2am, shot the security dog, and took the victims away.

“He was running after me and even fired at me. I don’t know how many shots. I couldn’t look back because I was trying to escape. Someone came after me from the bush, and I ran faster until I got to the gate. Some of our students, about four or so, are missing now,” the student said.

This attack followed last week’s alleged robbery in Rumuji, only hours after the vice chancellor’s assurance of improved safety.

Rivers police spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the abduction, describing the attackers as cultists.

“They were abducted by cultists. In the early hours of Tuesday, a group of five cultists stormed an isolated area of Rumuchi/Rumuohia, fired shots and abducted five persons to an unknown location,” she said.

She added that the command had launched a manhunt for the kidnappers. “We have put efforts in place for their safe rescue. As I speak, the commissioner of police is there with tactical teams to ensure their freedom,” she said.

Attempts to reach officials of the state government yesterday were unsuccessful.

Gunmen Hijack Bus, Abduct 14 Passengers In Imo

In Imo State, gunmen suspected to be herdsmen reportedly hijacked a fully loaded Aba-bound commercial bus on Monday evening at Ngor Okpala.

Eyewitnesses said the gunmen emerged from the bush, fired shots and seized control of the bus travelling from Owerri to Aba. The incident caused panic, with other motorists reversing suddenly or stopping abruptly while passengers fled in different directions.

“They came out of the bush and started shooting, then kidnapped passengers in a full bus. Many people ran out of their vehicles, some into the bush, others back the way they came. It was terrifying,” an eyewitness said.

In May 2025, suspected herders abducted about eighteen passengers in a similar attack in the same area. A few weeks later, more than twenty passengers were reportedly kidnapped on the same route, with two people killed.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Imo State, Henry Okoye, said the incident had not yet been formally reported.

“The incident has not been reported to the Police. Nevertheless, the commissioner of police has deployed tactical units on fact-finding patrols along the Owerri–Aba Express Road. Further details will be communicated in due course,” he said.