Isa Umar, Abuja
About 20 medical and dental students of the University of Maiduguri and University of Jos have been reportedly kidnapped by gunmen in Benue State.
The incident was said to have happened when the students were travelling to the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) annual convention in Enugu and were ambushed around 5.30pm in the Otukpo area of Benue state.
The Benue State Police Command spokesperson, SP Catherine Anene, confirmed the abduction and stated that an investigation is underway.
The names of the 20 medical and dental students as released by the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students are: Boniface Tizhe, Thomas Yahaya, Gabriel Jita Iwev, Boniface Okon, Dondo Fabian, John Bitrus Naga, Fortune Chima Umeh, Godwin Gregory Tumba and Monica Ejembi.
Others are 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.
PACESETTER reports that in a post on X (formerly Twitter) using the handle of one of the abducted students, Kingsley Aondona, the kidnappers are demanding a ransom of fifty million naira.
The X post which was made on Friday, August 16, 2024 by 6:31pm reads:
“We were kidnapped on our way to Enugu for a convention @Nigerian_Doctor there are requesting for 50 million for 20 of us medical students please help us and we haven’t eaten for two days.
“0816342057- pius that is who we are gathering the money with.
“They said they would start killing us tomorrow [today]”.
After the post yesterday, no new post has been made on the handle since today.