A disturbing resurgence of mass abductions has gripped the South-South and South-East regions, with reports confirming that armed criminal gangs have abducted five students from Rivers State University (RSU) and seized 14 passengers from a commercial bus travelling through Imo State.
The dual attacks, reported across major dailies today, signal a dangerous expansion of kidnapping-for-ransom operations away from the traditional hotspots of the North-West, threatening critical transportation corridors and educational institutions.
In Rivers State, the attack targeted students of the state university in the Nkporlu area of Port Harcourt. The Gunmen reportedly stormed a private off-campus residence in the early hours of Monday, specifically targeting students who were preparing for upcoming examinations.
Five students were taken from the premises and moved to an unknown location.
The management of Rivers State University has confirmed the incident and stated they are working with security agencies to secure the release of the students and tighten security around all student housing facilities, both on and off-campus. The incident has caused panic among students, leading to fresh calls for the deployment of a specialized police unit dedicated to protecting tertiary institutions.
The second, larger abduction occurred in Imo State, underscoring the severe risk faced by interstate travelers.
A commercial luxury bus traveling from the South-East to a Northern state was intercepted by a gang of armed men along a major federal highway. The gunmen reportedly blocked the road, forced the vehicle to stop, and ordered passengers out at gunpoint.
Fourteen passengers were reportedly dragged into the bush. The driver and a few other passengers managed to escape and raised the alarm.
This incident highlights the failure of joint security patrols to secure federal highways in the region, which has seen repeated attacks by gunmen targeting travelers for high-value ransom.
The simultaneous attacks in Rivers and Imo States confirm that the kidnapping economy is not only sustained but is geographically expanding and diversifying its targets:
While the North-West remains the epicenter, this resurgence shows criminal groups are finding soft targets in the South-South and South-East, where a robust oil economy and frequent interstate travel offer lucrative opportunities for high ransoms.
The targeting of university students, similar to attacks seen in the North, aims to maximize pressure on the state government and wealthy families, who are often compelled to pay large sums to avoid prolonged captivity and media scrutiny.
The dual crisis requires security forces to divide their resources across multiple theaters, from the fight against cultism and pipeline vandalism in Rivers to the struggle against unidentified gunmen (UGM) in Imo, leaving both highways and off-campus communities dangerously vulnerable.
The authorities in both states face an urgent mandate to launch coordinated search and rescue operations, coupled with a fundamental overhaul of highway and educational institution security.
