The Sokoto State Government and the management of Gamji College of Health Technology have firmly rejected allegations that 18 of their students were abducted by terrorists while en route to Oyo State. This clarification comes in response to a report circulated on October 5, 2026, which claimed that the students were attacked and taken while traveling in a chartered bus, with the driver reportedly killed during the incident.

In an official statement, Abubakar Bawa, the Director-General of Media and Publicity at the Government House in Sokoto, stressed that no students from the college had been kidnapped. "The Sokoto State Government wishes to categorically state that no student of Gamji College of Health Technology, Sokoto, was abducted by suspected terrorists," the statement read. The government urged the public to dismiss the report, labeling it as unfounded and misleading.

Gamji College also issued a separate statement through its Registrar, Bello Abdulrahman, asserting that the claims were entirely false. "The College wishes to categorically state that the said report is FALSE, MISLEADING and does not reflect the true situation," Abdulrahman stated. He emphasized that all students were safe and actively engaged in their academic and professional pursuits.

The college reassured parents and guardians that its students were secure and had reached their respective destinations as planned. It also reiterated its commitment to ensuring a safe learning environment, highlighting ongoing collaboration with security agencies.

In addressing the confusion surrounding the reported abduction, the Sokoto State Government clarified that the individual involved was not a current student of Gamji College. Halima Sokeni, a former student of Gamji College of Nursing Sciences, was abducted alongside other passengers in Niger State while traveling home on October 1, 2026. Sokeni had graduated as a midwife just weeks prior, in September.

The government urged media professionals to uphold journalistic integrity by thoroughly verifying information before dissemination to prevent the spread of false and potentially alarming news. This incident underscores the importance of accurate reporting, particularly in sensitive matters concerning student safety and security.