By Joyce Ekeh
The Sokoto State Government has dismissed as false a report alleging the abduction of 18 students of Gamji College of Health Technology, Sokoto, while travelling to Oyo State.
The government said no student of Gamji College of Health Technology was kidnapped, describing the report attributed to Sahara Reporters as inaccurate and capable of causing unnecessary panic among students, parents and the general public.
In a press statement on Monday, Director-General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Sokoto, Abubakar Bawa, said the person involved in the reported abduction was a former student of Gamji College of Nursing Sciences, More Area, Sokoto, and not a current student of the college as reported.
“For the avoidance of doubt and to set the record straight, no student of Gamji College of Health Technology, Sokoto, was abducted by suspected terrorists,” the government stated.
According to the statement, the woman identified as Halima Sokeni graduated from the institution as a midwife in September 2026.
The government said Sokeni was travelling home on Thursday, October 1, when she and other passengers were reportedly abducted in Niger State.
It therefore urged members of the public to disregard the report alleging that 18 students of the private health institution were intercepted and abducted while travelling in a chartered bus from Sokoto to Oyo State.
The clarification comes amid heightened concerns over insecurity and the safety of travellers along interstate routes, particularly across parts of northern Nigeria.
The state government stressed the need for accuracy in reporting security incidents, warning that unverified reports could heighten public anxiety and cause unnecessary reputational damage to institutions and government agencies.
It also appealed to journalists and media organisations to adhere strictly to professional ethics by verifying information before publication, particularly reports involving terrorism, mass abductions, and the safety of students.
“Journalists and media organisations should always adhere to the ethics and professional standards of journalism by verifying information before publication, in order to avoid spreading false, misleading and potentially alarming reports,” the statement said.
The government said the clarification was necessary to prevent the report from generating further confusion and anxiety among students, their families, and the wider public.
