Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nasarawa State Police Command has launched a large‑scale manhunt following the abduction of six engineering students and a visitor from an off‑campus lodge in the Gudi area of Akwanga Local Government Area. The gunmen, who struck at around 9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, stormed a students’ lodge at Anguwar Ninzo on the outskirts of Gudi town, forcing the victims into a waiting vehicle before speeding off into the darkness. The abducted students were identified as members of the Faculty of Engineering at the Gudi Campus of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK). A seventh person, said to be visiting one of the students at the time of the incident, was also taken.
A distress call was received shortly after the attack, prompting immediate deployment of police tactical units. Police Public Relations Officer for the state command, SP Ramhan Nansel, confirmed the incident in a statement on Thursday, May 7, 2026. According to the statement, combined teams of the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the military, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), vigilante groups and other tactical units have been deployed to track down the abductors. “The operation is aimed at tracking down the abductors, rescuing the victims unhurt and bringing the perpetrators to justice,” Nansel said.
Commissioner of Police for Nasarawa State, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed, visited the scene on Thursday for an on‑the‑spot assessment. During the visit, he reassured students, residents and the university community of the command’s unwavering commitment to the safe rescue of the abducted victims. To strengthen ongoing operations, the Commissioner has redeployed the Area Commander of Akwanga to coordinate field operations in the area. The Police spokesperson said the move is intended to ensure a more coordinated and robust response pending the rescue of the victims. He added that operatives are currently combing nearby forests and surrounding communities in search of the kidnappers.
The incident has sent waves of fear through the university town, where off‑campus accommodations are increasingly vulnerable to night attacks. A fellow engineering student who gave his name only as John told local journalists that the lodge at Anguwar Ninzo had no perimeter fence or round‑the‑clock security. “We have repeatedly asked the university and local authorities for better protection, but nothing has been done. Now our colleagues are in the hands of kidnappers,” he said.
The abduction of the six engineering students is the latest in a series of security challenges that have plagued tertiary institutions in north‑central Nigeria. Nasarawa State, which shares borders with Benue, Taraba, Kaduna and Plateau states, has experienced a worrying rise in campus‑related kidnappings over the past 12 months. In October 2025, armed bandits abducted two lecturers from the same university while they were travelling along the Keffi‑Abuja highway. The lecturers were released after a ransom payment, but the incident left students and faculty deeply shaken.
The police command has urged members of the public to remain calm, vigilant and security‑conscious while appealing to anyone with useful information that could aid the ongoing operation to report to the nearest police station or any other security agency. “Further updates will be communicated as rescue operations and investigations progress,” Nansel added.
The abduction has drawn sharp condemnation from the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), both of which called on the federal government to take urgent steps to dismantle criminal networks operating around tertiary institutions. A NANS regional officer noted that many students now live in constant fear, with some already considering dropping out or transferring to institutions in safer regions.
The police have not disclosed whether any ransom demand has been made or whether any of the abducted students have been able to establish contact with their families. Security sources told Stone Reporters News that the terrain around Gudi, which includes dense forest patches and rocky hills, is making the search difficult but not impossible. The combined security team is using aerial surveillance and ground patrols to locate the hideout of the kidnappers.
As the manhunt continues, families of the abducted students have gathered at the NSUK Gudi Campus, waiting anxiously for any news. A relative of one of the victims, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the agony of not knowing whether their loved one is alive or dead. “We are praying and hoping that the security forces will bring our children back home safely,” she said. The university administration has yet to issue a formal statement, but the Vice‑Chancellor is expected to address the crisis later on Friday.
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