The Katsina State Police Command confirmed that five female students of the Federal University, Dutsinma were kidnapped on Wednesday.
The police additionally verified the apprehension of a man believed to be providing information to the terrorists. However, as of Wednesday morning, specific details about the incident were not disclosed.
The spokesperson for the Katsina Police Command, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, confirmed both the incident and the arrest.
He said, “Yes, the incident happened. An arrest has been made. I cannot say anything more than that for now as I am on my way to the institution. Our men are already on the ground there and are on top of the situation.”
According to residents, the assailants attacked the victims’ private residence at approximately 2 a.m. on Wednesday, firing shots indiscriminately.
Some locals stated that all five abducted students were female and in their final year.
Efforts to obtain a statement from the institution’s management proved unsuccessful. The university’s spokesperson, Habib Umar, was reportedly in a meeting, and his phone went unanswered.
The main campus appeared sparsely populated, likely due to the completion of first-semester exams, with only a few students in sight.