A devastating kidnapping incident has occurred in Benue State, where over 20 medical and dental students, along with a house officer, were taken by gunmen.
The students, from the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos, were traveling to the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) annual convention in Enugu when they were ambushed in the Otukpo area.
Benue State Police Command spokesperson, SP Catherine Anene, confirmed the abduction and stated that an investigation is underway. “Yes, the report of the kidnapping is true. It was received between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., and an investigation is ongoing,” she said.
No official demand for ransom or conditions for their release have been made at this time.
Kidnapping has become increasingly rampant in Benue and other parts of Nigeria, with the state frequently witnessing abductions that have left communities in fear and insecurity. Recent incidents include the kidnapping of two female students of the Joseph Sarwuan University of Agriculture, Makurdi, and three staff members of Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo.
The rise in kidnapping incidents across the country underscores the urgent need for enhanced security measures to protect citizens and address the root causes fueling this wave of criminality.
