Sad! 20 touring medical students abducted in Benue

At least 20 medical students were kidnapped in Benue State, in transit to Enugu State, passing through the Otukpo Local Government area in the state.

The Public Relations Officer of the Benue State Police Command, Sewuese Anene, who confirmed the incident on Friday, said the victims encountered the bandits en route to Enugu for a programme.

The students were said to be in a convoy of two buses and were coming from the northern part of the country when they ran into the ambush on Thursday evening at about 5:30 pm.

According to him, “Yes, it happened yesterday, Thursday evening around 5:30 pm. The Medical students were said to be travelling from Jos axis and were heading to Enugu in two buses, for a programme when they were kidnapped around the Otukpo area.

“Though I cannot tell 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 investigation into the matter has already commenced.”

Indeed, residents said the federal highway from Otukpo through Ugbokolo in the Okpokwu Local Government Area down to Odoba and Otukpa in Ogbadibu Local Government Area is a dangerous route to travel as it is notorious for kidnapping, especially bevause of the thick forests and vast ungoverned spaces which are invested by bandits.