A DELUGE of unidentified gunmen numbering over 20 on Tuesday
kidnapped the Rector of the College of Education (COE) Dr. Hans Shenwua,
a development which sparked students’ protest that led to the torching
of Governor Suswam’s house located in the town.
The Guardian gathered in the area that the kidnappers stormed the Rector’s residence at about 10:00 pm after he had closed from work and was resting with his family, and took him to an unknown destination.
It was also gathered that the angry protesting students of the college thronged the major streets in the town burning vehicle tyres on major streets, blocking the Takum Junction before the police arrived the scene to disperse them with teargas.
The students’ protest, it was learnt, was hijacked by hoodlums in the area, who took advantage of the protest to shoot sporadically in the air thereby causing panic and fear among the residents of the town. An informant in Katsina- Ala told The Guardian that the students were singing songs in loud voices saying “No Baba Provost, No election, No Baba, no senator”.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hyacinth Dagala, who confirmed the incident, said no arrest has so far been made. Commenting on the incident, Governor Suswam condemned the kidnapping of the Rector describing it as one of the serious security challenges confronting the state. The Benue governor said he has already briefed security operatives on the matter and charged them to ensure the perpetrators are apprehended and brought to face the full wrath of the law. He said the hoodlums are operating within the Katsina Ala, Adikpo and Vandeikya axis and linked the attacks to some desperate politicians who are bent on winning elections at all cost.
Source - Guardian
