In a tragic incident, more than 20 medical and dental students, along with a house officer, were kidnapped by gunmen in Benue State.
The students were on their way to attend the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) annual convention in Enugu when they were ambushed in the Otukpo area around 5:30 p.m., according to reports from our source
The victims are believed to be students from the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos.
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Confirming the incident, SP Catherine Anene, spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, stated that an investigation has been launched to locate and rescue the kidnapped individuals.
“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.
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As of Friday, no demands for ransom or conditions for the release of the abducted students have been made public, according to our source.
This latest kidnapping is part of a growing trend of abductions in Benue State and other parts of Nigeria. In recent months, the state has witnessed a surge in kidnapping incidents, including the abduction of two female students from the Joseph Sarwuan University of Agriculture in May and three staff members, including the acting Rector of Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo, in July.
The rise in such criminal activities highlights the urgent need for enhanced security measures to protect citizens and address the underlying issues fueling this wave of insecurity.