Gunmen on Thursday ambushed and kidnapped over 20 Nigerian Medical and Dental Students from the Universities of Maiduguri and Jos respectively in Benue State.
The students, New Telegraph gathered were travelling together from Jos, Plateau State for their national convention in Enugu when they were ambushed around 5:30 pm in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State and taken away to unknown destinations.
It was also gathered that the students were kidnapped alongside a House Officer identified as Dr Louis en route to the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) annual convention in Enugu.
The incident sparked concerns for the safety of the abducted students with medical experts appealing to security agencies for urgent intervention to rescue the students and free the families from the trauma.
Dr Louis was quoted as saying, “they were reportedly abducted somewhere in Benue State, not far from Otukpo, judging by their last known location”.
The Benue State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Catherine Sewuese Anene confirmed the incident.
Anene said a full scale investigation had already been launched into the abduction.
She said, “a report was received that medical students from Jos were on their way from Jos to Enugu and were kidnapped around Otukpo. investigation is ongoing”.
Below are the identities of the abducted students both from Unimaid and UniJos:
- 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
- Dr Luis Mmbamonyeuku