Abducted Kogi Student Found Wandering Naked in Kwara, Rescued

A Kogi student abducted by unknown assailants was discovered wandering naked in Kwara State before being rescued, raising concerns about rising insecurity.

The Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has announced the rescue of a 19-year-old student from Abubakar Audu University in Ayangba, Kogi State. The student was discovered wandering naked in Ilorin.

Fauziyah Muhammed, a senior English Education undergraduate, was reportedly kidnapped on Sunday morning in Ayangba, located within the Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State.

She was reportedly put under hypnosis by her captors and subsequently left in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State.

Dr. Umar Muhammed, the NSCDC Commandant for Kwara State, announced at a press briefing that on Monday morning residents of the Ajegunle-Isale community along Egbejila Road found Fauziyah.

The community is in shock following the incident that took place between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Sunday.

Authorities are looking into the details of the student’s kidnapping and eventual release.

In the meantime, Fauziyah is receiving care, and efforts continue to solve the mystery surrounding her ordeal.

The commandant mentioned that “Fauziyah was seen wandering around the community without clothes,” and noted that residents apprehended her before handing her over to NSCDC officer Afolayan, who then enlisted the support of the command.

He mentioned that Fauziyah is no longer coherent in her speech, indicating the terrible experiences she endured while with the kidnappers.

She was discovered without clothes, but some kind individuals in Ajegunle Isale, Egbejila Road, Ilorin provided her with clothing. Our team has also made efforts to comfort her.

“We informed Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq about her difficult situation, and as a caring figure, he has promised to provide us with fuel so we can return her to Kogi tomorrow,” he added.

In an interview, Fauziyah mentioned that she was unsure of how she ended up in Kwara State from Kögi State. She remembered only this: “One of the books I was carrying fell, and as I bent to pick it up, I lost consciousness.”

The commandant mentioned that the command was prepared to release her to Mallam Salihu Aliu, who claimed to be her uncle and had been authorized by the family to act on their behalf.

In a separate incident, the authorities also showcased one Abu Usman Soja, who is suspected of being an informant for kidnappers responsible for abducting three individuals—a woman and her two children—in Ajase-Ipo, located in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The NSCDC reported that the kidnappers, who are currently at large, abducted a woman and her two children on November 7, 2024. They have demanded a ransom of N50 million for their release.

The commandant stated that the kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of N50 million but later reduced it to N15 million. While they have released the mother, they fled into the forest with the children.