Seven students of the Abia State University Uturu (ABSU), were abducted by gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen while they were traveling alongside other passengers along the Okigwe/Uturu road, Abia state.

The incident which happened on Thursday, March 31st, only came to light over the weekend, and it is now reported that their abductors contacted the families of the students and demanded N2m for each of their victims as a condition for their release. 

Two of the victims have been identified as Mejeh Emmanuel and Divine Nwachukwu, both medical students. 

A statement issued by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the university, assured that efforts were being intensified to secure the release of the affected students while advising students to avoid night travel. 

The Abia state police spokesperson, Geoffrey Ogbonna, on Sunday, confirmed the kidnapping of the seven students, saying that they have not been freed. He explained that the Abia and Imo State Police Commands have joined forces to rescue the students.

The university's vice-chancellor, Prof, Onyemachi Ogbulu, confirmed that the kidnappers had contacted him on Friday and demanded N10 million for each of the students but 24 hours later, they reduced the ransom to N2 million each.

See photos of the kidnapped students below