In a chilling escalation of the ongoing kidnapping crisis in Nigeria, more than 20 medical and dental students, along with a house officer, were abducted by gunmen in Benue State.
The students, who were en route to the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) annual convention in Enugu, were ambushed around 5:30 p.m. in the Otukpo area, according to reports.
The victims are reported to be students from the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos. This mass abduction has sent shockwaves through the academic and medical communities, heightening concerns about the safety of students traveling in the region.
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SP Catherine Anene, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, confirmed the incident, stating, “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.”
As of Friday, PUNCH Online reported that no official demands for ransom or conditions for the release of the abducted individuals have been made public.
Kidnapping has become increasingly rampant in Benue and other parts of Nigeria, with frequent abductions plunging communities into fear and insecurity.
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The situation in Benue has been particularly dire, with a series of high-profile kidnappings over the past few months. In May, two female students from the Joseph Sarwuan University of Agriculture, Makurdi, were kidnapped by gunmen.
In July, the acting Rector of Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo, Dr. Emmanuel Barki, and two other staff members were abducted, with a ransom demand of N70 million. Additionally, ten people were kidnapped in the Taraba/Benue border community of Jootar in March.
This latest incident underscores the growing crisis of insecurity in Nigeria, where criminal groups increasingly target individuals and groups, often demanding hefty ransoms. The rise in such activities highlights the urgent need for enhanced security measures to protect citizens and address the root causes fueling this wave of criminality.
