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Bandits Kill Herder, Abduct University Student In Kebbi Midnight Raid
It was gathered that the attack occurred at around 3:00 a.m. in Istijaba Villa, a student lodge located in Unguwar Jeji, Kalgo Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State– Suspected bandits in the early hours of Tuesday attacked an off-campus hostel housing students of the Federal University, Birnin Kebbi (FUBK), killing a local herder and abducting a 400-level student, Augustine Madubiya, of the Department of Economics.
It was gathered that the attack occurred at around 3:00 a.m. in Istijaba Villa, a student lodge located in Unguwar Jeji, Kalgo Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the university, Jamilu Magaji, said the armed men — numbering five — approached the sleeping students and demanded money.
“The students were sleeping outside their rooms when the attackers accosted and demanded money from them,” Magaji explained.
“The students explained that as students, they had no money. During the confrontation, the armed men assaulted them.”
News Agency of Nigerian reports that a local herder, Malam Siddi Hussaini, who was nearby tending to his cattle, heard the noise and approached to investigate. He was shot dead by the assailants.
The gunmen then abducted Augustine Madubiya, while another student, Mr. Collaneous Steven, a 200-level student of Business Administration, managed to escape the scene.
In the aftermath of the attack, the university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Muhammad Zaiyan-Umar, visited the scene in the company of the Divisional Police Officer of Kalgo Division and officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) to address the shaken student body.
“The university is deeply concerned and committed to ensuring the safety of all our students, both on and off campus,” Prof. Zaiyan-Umar said, according to Magaji.
The Vice Chancellor also reached out to the Kebbi State Government, informing Governor Nasir Idris of the incident through the Secretary to the State Government and the Director of Security Services at the Cabinet Office.
He expressed appreciation to members of the local community who rendered support during the crisis, urging the government and security agencies to increase efforts to protect students and ensure the safe return of the abducted student.
