Bandits in Benue kidnap 20 medical students
About 20 medical students have been kidnapped in Benue State, police authorities confirmed on Friday.
The students were en route to Enugu State, passing through Otukpo Local Government Area in Benue, when they encountered bandits.
According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, Sewuese Anene, the victims were on their way to Enugu for a programme when the incident occurred.
The students were travelling in a convoy of two buses, having departed from the northern part of the country, when they were ambushed by the kidnappers on Thursday evening at approximately 5:30 PM.
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“Yes, it happened yesterday, Thursday evening around 5:30 PM. The medical students were said to be travelling from the Jos axis and were heading to Enugu in two buses for a programme when they were kidnapped around the Otukpo area,” Anene stated.
“Though I can not confirm which university they were from, they were medical students in transit. I am yet to receive full details of the incident, but I can assure you that an investigation into the matter has already commenced.”
The Otukpo-Ugbokolo highway, running through the Okpokwu local government area down to Odoba and Otukpa in Ogbadibu local government area, has become notorious for kidnappings.
In the past six years, it has been one of Nigeria’s most dangerous roads due to the presence of a notorious kidnapping syndicate that controls the thick forests and vast ungoverned spaces in the area.
This incident is just one of many that have occurred along this route. Six weeks ago, the management team of the Benue State Polytechnic in Ugbokolo, led by the Rector, was also kidnapped along this axis.
In addition, Catholic priests and numerous other motorists have fallen victim to kidnappings on this road, with little to no significant efforts made to curb the menace.
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