At least 19 people, including five students of Rivers State University were kidnapped by gunmen in Rivers and Imo states on Tuesday.
The attacks come on the same day the House of Representatives called on the federal government to apprehend the killers of five policemen in Bauchi State last week.
Meanwhile, following the resignation of Defence Minister Abubakar Badaru on Monday, President Bola Tinubu nominated the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, as his replacement and met with security chiefs to discuss the nation’s security challenges.
Rivers State: Students Targeted
In Rivers, suspected cultists struck in the early hours, abducting at least five students from RSU’s Emohua Satellite Campus.
The students were reportedly seized at gunpoint from their off-campus residence in Emuoha, Emohua Local Government Area.
The kidnappings come after students living off-campus protested persistent attacks and harassment by cultists last week, urging RSU management to relocate them to the main campus in Port Harcourt for safety.
However, at a pre-convocation briefing on Monday, RSU Vice Chancellor Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi dismissed the idea of closing the Emohua campus or relocating students, stating that the university was addressing security concerns through “engagements with community leaders, council authorities and security agencies.”
A student who narrowly escaped the attack, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the terrifying ordeal, “He was running after me and even shot at me, I don’t know how many times. I couldn’t look back because I was focused on escaping.
“Someone from the bush then ran after me. I had to run faster to the gate. Some of our students, about four or so, are missing now.”
The incident followed a recent alleged robbery in Rumuji, occurring just hours after the vice chancellor’s assurances.
Rivers State Police Command Spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the abduction, attributing it to cultists.
She said, “They were abducted by cultists. In the early hours of Tuesday (yesterday), a group of cultists numbering five stormed an isolated area of Rumuchi/Rumuohia, shot sporadically and abducted five persons to an unknown destination.”
The PPRO added that a manhunt had been launched, noting, “We have put efforts in place for their safe rescue. As I speak, the commissioner of police has gone there with tactical teams to ensure they regain their freedom.”
Attempts to obtain comments from Rivers State government officials were unsuccessful at press time.
Imo State: Bus Hijacked, 14 Passengers Abducted
In Imo State, suspected herdsmen reportedly hijacked an Aba-bound bus with 14 passengers at Ngor Okpala on Monday evening.
Eyewitnesses said the gunmen emerged from the bush, fired shots, and seized control of the bus, which had departed Owerri for Aba in neighboring Abia State.
“They came out of the bush and started shooting; and then kidnapped passengers in a fully loaded bus. Many passengers ran out of their vehicles, some ran into the bush, others ran back; the situation was terrifying,” an eyewitness said.
The area has witnessed similar incidents before. In May 2025, about 18 passengers were abducted in the same manner, followed by another attack weeks later where more than 20 people were kidnapped and two killed.
Imo Police Public Relations Officer Henry Okoye said the incident had yet to be officially reported.
“The incident has not been reported to the Police. Nevertheless, the commissioner of police has deployed tactical units to embark on robust fact-finding patrols along the Owerri–Aba Express Road. Further details will be communicated in due course,” he stated.
