More than 20 medical and dental students, along with a house officer, have been kidnapped 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 from Vanguard.
The abducted individuals are reportedly students from the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos.
Benue State Police Command spokesperson, SP Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident and stated that an investigation is currently 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.
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As of Friday, Saving Point Media reports that no official demand for ransom or conditions for the students’ release have been made.
Kidnapping has become increasingly rampant in Benue State and other parts of Nigeria, with frequent abductions instilling fear and insecurity in local communities.
In May, two female students from Joseph Sarwuan University of Agriculture, Makurdi, were kidnapped by gunmen.
Similarly, in July, three staff members, including the acting Rector of Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo, Dr. Emmanuel Barki, were abducted, with the kidnappers demanding a ransom of N70 million.
In March, ten people were reportedly kidnapped at the Taraba/Benue border community in Jootar, within the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
This alarming trend is part of a broader surge in kidnapping incidents across Nigeria, where criminal groups frequently 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.
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