The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kwara State Command, announced on Monday the rescue of a 400-level student from Abubakar Audu University, Ayangba, Kogi State, who had been abducted and was later found wandering naked in Ilorin.
The 19-year-old English Education student, identified as Fauziyah Muhammed, was reportedly kidnapped on Sunday morning in Ayangba, hypnotized, and then abandoned in Ilorin, Kwara State. The incident occurred between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Sunday.
Dr. Umar Muhammed, the NSCDC Commandant in Kwara State, briefed journalists in Ilorin, stating that Fauziyah was discovered early Monday morning by residents of the Ajegunle-Isale community on Egbejila Road. “She was found wandering naked, and the community residents apprehended her before handing her over to our officer, Afolayan,” he explained.
The commandant added that Fauziyah appeared disoriented and incoherent, a sign of the trauma she had endured while in the custody of her abductors. “We were able to provide her with clothes, and our team has been offering comfort and support during this difficult time,” he said.
Dr. Muhammed also revealed that Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq had been briefed about the situation and, as a father, had pledged to assist with fuel to return Fauziyah to her family in Kogi State. “We are making arrangements to take her back to Kogi tomorrow,” he confirmed.
In an interview, Fauziyah recounted her ordeal, saying she had no memory of how she was transported to Kwara State. “I dropped one of the books I was carrying, and when I bent down to pick it up, I lost consciousness,” she recalled.
The NSCDC also announced plans to release Fauziyah into the care of one Mallam Salihu Aliu, who identified himself as her uncle and was authorized by the family to take custody of her.
In a separate development, the NSCDC paraded Abu Usman Soja, a suspected informant for kidnappers who had abducted three individuals—including a woman and her two children—in Ajase-Ipo, Irepodun Local Government Area, Kwara State. The kidnappers, who are still at large, abducted the woman and her children on November 7, 2024, and initially demanded a ransom of N50 million.
However, the kidnappers later reduced the ransom to N15 million. “While the mother has been released, the kidnappers have escaped into the forest with the children,” the NSCDC commandant said.
