Nigerian soldiers have been accused of forcefully whisking away eight rescued hostages from Oro-Ago police station in Kwara State.
The freed hostages were students of Federal Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) Osara in Kogi State.
They were left behind when 21 others who were earlier rescued by security agents after gunmen gunmen invaded the school and kidnapped them on May 9th at about 2030hrs.
The Command’s spokesman, DSP Ejire-adeyemi Toun who confirmed this on Sunday in a statement on behalf of the State Commissioner of Police, CP Victor Olaiya.
The statement alleged that “soldiers on convoy patrol with three operational vehicles stormed Oro-Ago police station, over powered the police operatives and forcefully took custody of the rescued students without proper handing over”.
He said, “The eight students were rescued and taken to the Divisional Police Headquarters Oro-Ago in Kwara State in preparation for their onward movement to receive medical attention at the State Capital Ilorin.
“However on arrival at the station, the students appeared weak and in dirty clothing. Police operatives provided presentable clothes and breakfast.
“While making preparations for their onward movement to Ilorin, soldiers on convoy patrol with three operational vehicles stormed Oro-Ago police station, over powered the police operatives and forcefully took custody of the rescued students without proper handing over”.
“This act is disrespectful to the force; totally unacceptable. The behaviour of the soldiers is likened to act(s) unbecoming of an officer. And necessary actions will be taken to report their conduct to the higher authority”, the statement assured.
DSP Toun who said the eight students comprise five female and three males, said the soldiers stormed the police station in four Hilux security vans.
He identified the students as Anate Hanifat Oyiza ‘F’ 19, Damisa Rasidat Ometere ‘F’ 17yrs, Ahmed Tijani Fatimah, F, age 21 and Obakachi Mashkurah Onyioyiza, F 17yrs.
He also gave the names of other freed students to include, Oloruntoba Blessing Kemisola ‘F’ 23yrs, Omojo Godwin ‘M’ 19yrs, Abdulrafiu Abdulmakik Enesi ‘M’ and 19yrs, Musa Oseni ‘M’ 19yrs.
The police spokesman said Kwara State CP Victor Olaiya moved in a swift response mobilized Tactical teams with the support of Kogi State Police Command and other security operatives led to the successful rescue of 21 students who have since been reunited with their families.
He also recalled how the kidnappers further made their way into kwara State with the remainder of the students taken into captivity; roaming kwara forest with the abductees, according to the statement.
The CP further assured the people of Kwara that he will not relent in getting rid of criminal elements from the State and has promised to emplace maximum security to protect the lives and properties of it’s Citizens.
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