The 20 medical students from the University of Jos and the University of Maiduguri who were abducted in Benue State last week have been rescued, the Benue State Police Command confirmed late last night.
The successful rescue operation was a collaborative effort involving the military, police, and the Department of State Security (DSS), with coordination by the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
Details of the rescue mission were not immediately available, but the news has brought immense relief to the families, friends, and colleagues of the freed students. The police command’s spokesperson, Catherine Anene, provided a brief update via SMS at 11:15 PM yesterday (Friday), stating, “Kidnap victims were released. Details will be released tomorrow morning, please.”
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The students were abducted on Thursday, August 15, while traveling along the Otukpo-Enugu Highway in Benue State. They were on their way to Enugu for the annual convention of the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students when they were seized by kidnappers.
The ordeal of the abducted students became public when one of the victims, Aondona Kingsley, managed to communicate via social media approximately 48 hours after the abduction. In his posts on X (formerly Twitter), Kingsley revealed that the students had been denied food for the first two days of their captivity and were under constant threat of torture and death. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of N50 million for the release of all 20 students.
“We were kidnapped on our way to Enugu for a convention, @Nigerian_Doctor. They are requesting 50 million for 20 of us medical students. Please help us, and we haven’t eaten for two days,” Kingsley wrote, sharing a phone number for collecting the ransom. In a follow-up message, he expressed the urgency of the situation, saying, “They said they would start killing us tomorrow.”
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Among the abducted students were Boniface Tizhe, Thomas Yahaya, Gabriel Jita Iwev, Boniface Okon, Dondo Fabian, John Bitrus Naga, Fortune Chima Umeh, Godwin Gregory Tumba, Monica Ejembi, Ogbonna George Chukwuebuka, Paul Nyampa Zira, Lawrence Victory Adaugo, Okopi Peter, Enger Benedicta, Kwaghaondo Aondona Kingsley, Paul Shantong, Victoria Cornelius, Pius Samson, Okan Adara, and Dr. Luis Mmbamonyeukwu, a House Officer.
The rescue of these students marks a significant victory in the ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping in the region. Further details on the rescue operation and the condition of the students are expected to be released later today.
The incident has once again highlighted the dangers faced by travelers on some of Nigeria’s highways and the ongoing security challenges in the country.