By Amos Aar
THE JOSEPH Sarwuan Tarka University, formerly known as University of Agriculture, Makurdi, has been shutdown following the abduction of two female students on Tuesday evening by unidentified armed men.
In a statement issued by the university’s Registrar, Dr. John David, following a consultative meeting with security agencies and stakeholders, the management the closure of the institution is for two weeks as a recent of the recent security breach on campus.
The closure, which the registrar described as mid-semester break, would allow authorities to assess and address the security challenges facing the institution.
The university has also indefinitely postponed its inaugural lecture, which was originally scheduled for Wednesday.
The management urged students, parents, and the general public to remain calm, assuring them that security agencies are actively working to secure the release of the abducted students.
Confirming the incident, the Benue State Police Command stated that officers had been deployed to the university to restore order and launch an investigation.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Sewuese Anene, told journalists in Makurdi on Wednesday that police are committed to tracking down the perpetrators and ensuring the students’ safe return.
Meanwhile, the university’s Student Union staged a protest on Wednesday, demanding the immediate release of their colleagues.
In a statement, the union’s Public Relations Officer, Elum Shadrack, attributed the incident to what he described as the university’s failure to prioritise campus security, despite multiple complaints from students about the deteriorating security situation.
Efforts to enhance security measures on campus are expected to be a focal point as authorities work to prevent further incidents, the students’ union leadership asserted.
