On Friday, police officials reported that approximately 20 medical students were kidnapped in Benue State by bandits. The students were travelling to Enugu State and were passing through Otukpo Local Government Area when they were seized by bandits......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
Benue State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Sewuese Anene, revealed that the students were en route to a programme in Enugu when the abduction occurred.
They were traveling in two buses from the northern region of Nigeria and were ambushed on Thursday evening around 5:30 pm.
“The incident took place yesterday evening at approximately 5:30 pm. The students, who were coming from Jos and heading to Enugu in two buses, were intercepted by the kidnappers near Otukpo,” Anene confirmed.
While the specific university they attended remains unknown, Anene assured that an investigation is underway.
This area has become notorious for kidnapping activities over the past six years. The federal highway extending from Otukpo through Ugbokolo to Odoba and Otukpa has been plagued by kidnappings, largely due to the control of dense forests and unregulated spaces by criminal groups.
Just six weeks prior, the Benue State Polytechnic Ugbokolo management team, led by the Rector, was abducted along this route.
This is in addition to numerous other kidnapping incidents involving various individuals, including Catholic priests and motorists, highlighting the ongoing challenge in addressing this issue.