Sokoto govt, college deny abduction of 18 students

The Sokoto State Government has categorically denied claims that 18 students from Gamji College of Health Technology were abducted while traveling from Sokoto to Oyo State. In a statement released on Monday, the Director-General of Media and Publicity at Government House, Abubakar Bawa, warned the public to disregard the report, labeling it as false and misleading.

The government's denial followed a report alleging that students on a chartered bus from Sokoto to Oyo State were intercepted and abducted by suspected terrorists. The Sokoto government explicitly stated that no Gamji College of Health Technology student was abducted by suspected terrorists. Instead, the government identified Halima Sokeni, a former student of Gamji College of Nursing Sciences, as the individual involved in the incident.

Sokeni, who graduated as a midwife in September 2026, was reportedly abducted in Niger State while traveling home on October 1, alongside other passengers. The government urged journalists and the public to verify information before sharing or publishing reports, especially those concerning alleged abductions and security incidents.