20 Kidnapped Medical Students Rescued in Benue State
Twenty medical students from the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos, who gunmen abducted on August 15, have been successfully rescued, the Benue State Police Command confirmed late Friday night.
The students were kidnapped in Otukpo, Benue State while travelling to Enugu for the annual Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) Convention. Among those abducted was a House Officer accompanying the group.
Sewuese Anene, the Public Relations Officer of the Benue State Police Command, confirmed the release to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at 11:15 p.m. on Friday. “The victims have been released,” Anene stated, though she declined to provide additional details about the rescue operation. She added, “Details will be released tomorrow morning.”
The successful rescue followed the deployment of a tactical squad to Benue by Inspector-General of Police Olukayode Egbetokun, who also ordered the state’s Commissioner of Police to relocate to Otukpo to directly oversee the operation.
NAN gathered that the rescue operation was a coordinated effort led by a combined team of security operatives, under the direction of the Office of the National Security Adviser.
The details of how the students were freed remain undisclosed, but the swift action has been met with widespread relief.
The release of the students comes as a significant relief for their families and the academic community, who had been anxiously awaiting their safe return. The Benue State Police Command is expected to provide more information as the investigation into the kidnapping continues.
