The Nasarawa State police command has confirmed the shooting and abduction of a student of Isa Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic in Lafia while denying being informed by the school management of the incident.

Two students of the institution, along with an admission seeker, were reportedly shot by gunmen.

The criminals also kidnapped one female ND ll student of Science, Laboratory Technology, during the attack which reportedly happened around 08:00 p.m. on Monday, Daily Trust reports.

The students with gunshot wounds, Freedom Luka and Ogwuche Janet, along with an admission seeker, Danladi Nicholas, were taken to the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH), Lafia, for treatment following the attack.

Mr Luka is said to be in HND l studying Public Administration, while Ms Janet is said to be in HND II studying Business Administration and Management.

The rector of the institution, Justina Anjiode-Kotso, represented by Louis John Ogah, the deputy rector academic, confirmed the attack in a press briefing on Tuesday.

He said the incident has been reported to the security agencies in the state, adding that investigation into the attack is already underway to ascertain the true situation of the incident.

While confirming the incident to Peoples Gazette, the police command, however, denied that the institution reported the incident to the police.

The state police spokesperson, DSP Ranham Nansel said, “The report we got, yesterday, around 10:30 p.m., policemen on patrol got a distress call that an armed robbery is ongoing in a house located outside and even far behind the polytechnic.

“The police responded and upon arrival at the scene, it was discovered that three people were injured, one of them had bullet wounds and was rushed to the Dalhatu Araf Specialist hospital for treatment but the rest had just scratches and they are responding to treatment.

“Upon return to the scene, it was now discovered that one lady was missing, by the name Jumoke. The institution has not come out to tell us their students were attacked. Their identity, to us, we don’t know if they are students because the management of the institution has not come out to tell us that their students are off campus and this thing happened.

Upon being told that the rector of the institution had already issued a statement on the incident, the police spokesperson said, “Without even contacting the police? They’ve not interfaced with us, the DPO had to come to my office to ask if I’ve met with the institution, we said they’ve not come, we didn’t see anybody. The school is supposed to do due diligence, we’re supposed to be their first point of contact.

He, however, disclosed that “the commissioner of police has deployed tactical teams of the command, and the anti-kidnapping unit to the scene, so we are investigating.”