Approximately 20 medical students have been abducted in Benue State, police authorities confirmed on Friday.
The students were traveling to Enugu State when they were ambushed by bandits in the Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue.
According to the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, Sewuese Anene, the students were on their way to a program in Enugu, traveling in two buses from the northern region of the country.
The abduction occurred on Thursday evening around 5:30 pm as they passed through the Otukpo area.
“Yes, it happened yesterday, Thursday evening around 5:30 pm.
The medical students, traveling from the Jos axis and heading to Enugu in two buses, were kidnapped around the Otukpo area,” Anene confirmed.
While the exact university the students were from has not been identified, Anene assured that an investigation is already underway.
The Otukpo-Ugbokolo highway, extending through Okpokwu to Odoba and Otukpa in Ogbadibu, has become one of Nigeria’s most dangerous routes due to the prevalence of kidnappings.
Just six weeks ago, the management team of Benue State Polytechnic Ugbokolo, including the Rector, was abducted in the same area.
This incident adds to a growing list of kidnappings, including those of Catholic priests and numerous motorists, with limited success in tackling the problem
