- By Halimah Olamide
The Kogi State Governor Ahmed Ododo on Saturday revealed that investigations have shown that the surveillance cameras in the state University of Science were switched off during the invasion of bandits who kidnapped some of the students of the institution.
Speaking during his inspection of the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) Osara, said there were inside collaborators who made it possible for the bandits to make away with students.
While assuring members of the university community of efforts by the government to improve the existing security architecture on the campus, Governor Ododo promised that he will do whatever it takes to return all the abducted students back to the university and to reunite them with their families and friends.
“It is our duty as a government to protect lives and property in all parts of the state. We are prepared to protect the students and that is why we allowed the students to stay on the campus. “We installed CCTV cameras in all the classrooms and the entire perimeter of the university campus yet on the day of the attack, our investigation so far revealed that all the cameras were switched off and this can only be attributed to sabotage by internal collaborators.
“Our security agencies are on their heels and investigation is ongoing. All our students shall return safely and the perpetrators shall be brought to book”, the Governor assured. Speaking further on the ongoing rescue efforts, Governor Ododo disclosed that there will be regular review of the operation as more facts emerge from the investigation.
According to the Governor:
“I am here to see things myself; to assess the situation and also to review the ongoing operation that will ensure the safe return of the students to the school. What is most important now is how to rescue our students unhurt. “We have the right information at our disposal but we can’t put all that out in the media. I want the parents and students to be calm as we are making concerted effort to secure the return of the students.”