Fresh updates emerge on kidnapped 20 medical students in Benue

The police authorities in Benue State have announced the arrival of a new contingent of investigators from Force Headquarters in Abuja to aid in the investigation and rescue of the 20 medical students kidnapped last Thursday.

IDOMA VOICE reports The students, from the Universities of Maiduguri and Jos, were abducted while traveling through Benue State to Enugu for a youth program.

Catherine Anene, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Benue State Command, confirmed the deployment during a telephone interview on Tuesday. She explained that the team from Abuja would collaborate with local officers to accelerate the investigation and rescue operations.

The abduction has sparked significant public outcry, with pressure mounting on authorities to secure the release of the students. The kidnappers are demanding a ransom of N50 million, according to Samuel Uche, the National President of the Benue Medical Student Association (BEMSA), who provided an update from Makurdi.

Mr. Uche reported that his team had met with government officials who assured them that efforts were underway to free the abducted students. “We were able to meet face-to-face with some high-profile individuals who assured us of their commitment. They informed us that the situation has been elevated to a national security concern, and steps have already been taken, including deploying security operatives from the DSS,” Mr. Uche stated.

In addition to these efforts, BEMSA has sent official appeals to the Nigerian Medical Association, the Commissioner of Health, the Secretary to the Benue State Government, and the Commissioner of Police, urging swift action for the students’ release. “We’ve been working tirelessly on our end… We are hopeful that the government will intervene quickly to secure the release of our friends,” Mr. Uche added.

The students, 12 from the University of Jos and 8 from the University of Maiduguri, were traveling to Enugu for the annual Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students convention when they were ambushed and kidnapped in Otukpo, Benue State.

In response to the kidnapping, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate deployment of additional police resources to support the Benue State Command in their efforts to rescue the students. The IGP, through police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi, condemned the incident as “appalling, callous, and unacceptable.”

Kidnapping for ransom has become a common occurrence in Benue and other states across Nigeria, often perpetrated by various armed groups. The abduction of these medical students has intensified calls for stronger measures to combat this persistent threat.