Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has announced the release of the only student of Abia State University (ABSU) kidnapped by gunmen on the Okigwe-Uturu Road earlier in the week.
In a statement via his Twitter handle on Saturday, Ikpeazu said he has spoken with the female student and her parent.
The governor said that his administration has since taken measures to strengthen the security around the area where the incident happened.
He added that the security of lives and property of the people of the state remains one of the priorities of his government.
He wrote, “It is with exceedingly great joy and a very pleasant sense of relief that I announce that the only kidnapped ABSU student who was still in the custody of the hoodlums that abducted some people few days ago along the Okigwe-Uturu Road has been freed.
“I spoke with her and her mother minutes ago and want to thank God, our security agents and the management of ABSU for a job well done leading to this good news.
“Our administration has since taken measures to strengthen security around the area where the incident happened and even beyond it to ensure security of lives and property which remains my number one assignment as Governor and it is one duty I will never take lightly.
“We will surely take justice to those who abducted our student as we will not cohabit this state with criminals. To God be the glory!”
Recall that the Commissioner for Information in Abia State, John Kalu had said that two other students of the university who were also abducted had escaped from their abductors on the day of the incident.
“What I can tell you is that two of the students escaped. At this time, we only have confirmation of one student in the custody of the hoodlums.
“Two of the students – two girls – escaped. One escaped from inside the jungle where they took them to, while the other escaped at the point of interception, where they were taken,” Kalu said.