By Paschal Norbert
BENUE, AUGUST 24, 2024 (CISA)- In a successful operation, 20 medical students from the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos have been freed after spending nine days in captivity. The students were rescued on Friday, August 23, following an intensive search and rescue mission coordinated by the Nigerian National Security Adviser and involving multiple security agencies.
The students were abducted on August 16, 2024, while traveling from their respective universities to Enugu for an annual convention of The Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students. They were seized in Otukpo, Benue State, an area known for frequent kidnappings.
In response to the kidnapping, the Nigerian Police, Department of State Services (DSS), and military personnel, with support from the Benue State government, mobilized significant resources to facilitate the rescue. The police deployed helicopters, drones, and specialized vehicles to aid in the search. The operation also saw the involvement of new investigative teams from the Force Headquarters in Abuja, who worked alongside local officers in Makurdi to accelerate the rescue efforts.
Public pressure and media coverage played a crucial role in spurring the authorities into action. The kidnappers had initially demanded a ransom of N50 million. Samuel Uche, the National President of the Benue Medical Student Association (BEMSA), had expressed appreciation for the government’s commitment and efforts to resolve the crisis. He noted that high-profile figures and security operatives from the DSS were actively engaged in the rescue operation.
Uche’s association, along with various other stakeholders, had appealed to government officials and security agencies to expedite efforts to secure the students’ release. The rescue operation’s success highlights the ongoing issue of kidnappings in Nigeria, which is exacerbated by economic instability and criminal activities.
