20 Medical Students Abducted In Benue, NANS Demands Release

By Ayodele Oni

Armed men suspected to be kidnappers have abducted 20 Medical and Dental students from two Universities alongside a House Officer in Benue State.

It was gathered that the students were going for the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) annual convention in Enugu State when the incident happened  Thursday evening.

The victims were eight students of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) and 12 from University of Jos (UNIJOS). They were travelling together, and were ambushed by the gunmen around 5:30pm in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State enroute Enugu.

When contacted, the Benue State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Catherine Anene, who confirmed the incident through a telephone conversation with our correspondent, said “incident confirmed but I don’t have details of their number yet.”

Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerians Students, ( NANS) has condemned the kidnapping of the medical students from the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos, in Benue State on their way to the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) annual convention in Enugu.

NANS expressed willingness to engage in dialogue with the government to find solutions.

This was contained in a statement signed by the NANS Senate President, Okunomo Henry Adewumi, on Friday in Kano.

The statement reads: “This heinous act is a stark reminder of the growing insecurity in our nation, echoing the recent abduction and killing of passengers in Ondo State, as well as the brutal murder of a farmer at Oba Akoko in Ondo State by herdsmen.

“We express our deepest sympathy and solidarity with the victims and their families, and demand that the government takes immediate and proactive measures to address these senseless acts of violence and prevent future occurrences.

“As the representative body of Nigerian students, NANS is committed to advocating for students’ safety and welfare.

“We remind the government of its obligations under the right to education and the national security strategy to ensure the safety and security of all citizens, particularly students.

“We call for immediate rescue of the abducted individuals, increased security presence in vulnerable areas of Benue and Ondo States, improved intelligence gathering, sharing enhanced protection for schools, medical facilities, and communities.”