The Kwara State Police Command and the Army have clashed regarding the rescue of the remaining eight students of Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, Kogi State, who were abducted last month.

According to a news report from Daily Trust, bandits invaded the institution on May 9, abducting several students amid sporadic gunfire. While 21 students were initially rescued and two tragically killed by their abductors, the remaining victims were rescued in the Aro-Ago forest, Ifelodun LGA of Kwara State.

In a statement on Sunday, Kwara State Police Command alleged that some soldiers invaded its station in Oro Ago to forcefully take away the students, describing the action “as disrespectful and unacceptable”.

The statement signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, said, “The heinous gunmen made their way into Kwara State (from Kogi) with the remainder of the students roaming the forest with the abductees”.

“The students were rescued and taken to the Oro Ago Divisional Police headquarters, 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 the station, overpowered 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 the act(s) unbecoming of an officer. And necessary actions will be taken to report their conduct to the higher authority.”

However, in a telephone chat with our correspondent, the Army PRO, Sobi, Stephen Nwankwo, said the rescue team comprised officers from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the army, and local hunters including the police team.

He said the rescued victims were taken to Abuja.

“It is not our men here. So, I don’t understand how we forcefully took away the victims.

“The abductees were abandoned following the superior firepower from our men and they were being driven away but stopped at a police checkpoint before they proceeded. There was nothing like forceful overpowering,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Kogi State’s Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, in a statement on Sunday, also confirmed the rescue of the eight students.

The state government also expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and all the heads of security operatives for their various roles that ensured the release of the remaining abducted students. The eight rescued students are Anate Hanifat Oyiza, 19, Damisa Rashidat Ometere, 17, Ahmed Tijani Fatimah, 21, Obakachi Mashkurah Onyioyiza, 17, Oloruntoba Blessing Kemisola, 23, Omojo Godwin, 19, Abdulrafiu Abdulmalik Enesi, 19, and Musa Oseni, 19.