Gunmen Abduct Taraba Varsity Students, Troops Foil Church Attack

Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herders on Monday invaded the Federal University Wukari in Taraba State and abducted two students.

The Chief Security Officer of the university, Mr. Sule Gani, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with journalists in Jalingo.

Gani said a male and a female ex-students of the university who came to write their carry-over papers were abducted by the gunmen he described as armed Fulani herdsmen.

According to him, the herdsmen invaded the school and abducted two students who were eating at a food vendor shop on campus.

“Yes, Fulani herdsmen invaded the university yesterday and abducted two of our students. However, they are ex-students who came to clear their papers.

“They were eating at one of the shops within the university when the armed herdsmen invaded. Both the food sellers and other eye witness of the incident confirmed to us that the attackers were Fulani.

“We have mobilised both the military and police who are doing their best to ensure the rescue of the students,” the CSO said.

Meanwhile, troops of the Nigerian Army, on Tuesday. thwarted an attempt by terrorists to kidnap some Christians returning from a church programme in Taraba State.

Acting on intelligence, the troops hid themselves and waited for the terrorists to target their victims before swiftly moving in on them.

This, however, resulted in a fierce gun battle between the troops and the terrorists.

According to a post on X by the Nigerian Army, the troops overpowered the terrorists and killed no fewer than five.

Sophisticated weapons were also recovered from the terrorists.

The post read, “In a significant operation aimed at maintaining peace and security in Taraba State, troops of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army have neutralised five violent extremists, foiled kidnapping attempts, and recovered a substantial cache of arms and ammunition.

“The troops, while acting on actionable intelligence on the plan of the extremists to kidnap some church members returning from church programme in Wukari along Tor – Tse and Takum road, acted decisively. Troops of 93 Battalion deployed in Wukari swiftly swung into action and tactically lay in wait for the violent extremists and the insurgents in the early hours of April 2, 2024.

“The troops made contact with the extremists and engaged them in a fierce gun battle leading to the neutralisation of four extremists and recovery of two AK-47 rifles, one pump-action rifle and two AK-47 magazines.”