ONDO KIDNAPPING: MANAGEMENT CLARIFIES VICTIMS ARE GRADUATES, NOT FECA STUDENTS
Read Time:2 Minute, 11 Second
The management of the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, Ondo State, has denied reports that two of the individuals kidnapped last Saturday were students of the institution, calling the claims misleading and inaccurate.
Gunmen abducted three people from a farm in Oke Oge, Oba Ile community, Akure North Local Government Area, on Saturday evening.
While the victims’ identities had not been confirmed at the time of this report, sources suggested that they included a farm manager and two individuals thought to be students undergoing industrial training.
The kidnappers allegedly contacted the victims’ families and demanded a ransom of N15 million.
However, in a statement issued on Monday, the college’s Registrar, Mr. Olufemi Owolabi, clarified that the individuals in question were no longer students of the college, having graduated.
He emphasized that FECA could not be held accountable for the ransom demand.
The statement read: “Contrary to misleading headlines suggesting that the victims are current students of FECA, we categorically state that they are graduates of the institution who have successfully completed their National Diploma programmes and are currently undergoing their mandatory one-year Industrial Training.
“While FECA sympathises with the victims and their families during this difficult time, it is crucial to emphasise that they are no longer students of the college.
“Industrial Training is an external programme undertaken after graduation, meaning they are outside the direct academic or administrative jurisdiction of the institution. As such, the college cannot be held responsible for their unfortunate abduction.
“We commend the efforts of security agencies, particularly the Ondo State Security Network (Amotekun Corps), in working towards their safe release and urge the relevant authorities to intensify rescue efforts.”
The institution also called on the media and the public to verify information before dissemination to prevent misinformation.
The statement continued: “The management emphasises that there is no iota of truth in reports suggesting that the college is being held responsible for ransom demands. False or misleading reports can create unnecessary panic and distort the reality of the situation.
“We wish to reassure parents, guardians, staff, and students that peace prevails on campus. The college remains a safe and secure learning environment, and all academic and administrative activities are ongoing without disruption.”
Meanwhile, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed that security forces had launched search operations for the victims, sending officers into the forests to ensure their release.
“Our men from the anti-kidnapping squad have been deployed to the area to rescue all the victims,” the PPRO stated.
READ ALSO:
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0