Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has called on security agencies in the state to do all they can to ensure the safe return of 20 medical students from the University of Jos who were abducted in the state.
The governor, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, in a statement, condemned the kidnapping of the student doctors who are from the Universities of Maiduguri and Jos.
“The students, who were on their way to the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students annual convention in Enugu State, were ambushed and whisked away by gunmen along the Otukpo-Enugu highway on Thursday evening.”
The governor warned the criminal elements operating within the state to desist from such crimes, as he is committed to ridding Benue of any form of criminality.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives, the Nigerian Medical Association, and the National Association of Nigerian Students have all expressed their displeasure over the situation, calling on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and other security agencies to mobilise the needed resources and manpower to go after the non-state actors and rescue the kidnapped students.
In their separate releases through their representatives, they said the incident is an attack on Nigeria’s healthcare.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Healthcare Services, Dennis Idahosa, said, “The safety of our medical students is paramount, and this incident is not just an attack on these young professionals but on the future of our healthcare system.”
The NMA Secretary-General, Dr. Benjamin Egbo, in his letter to the police chief posted on their association’s official X handle on the 16th, drew the attention of the police to the possible plight of the medical students in the hands of their captors, promising to assist security agencies in whichever way they can to secure their release.
“Given the urgency of this matter and the potential risks to the lives of these young students, we implore your office to deploy all necessary resources to secure their immediate and safe return.”
NANS President, Lucky Emonefe, while condemning the crime, said, “The fact that this incident occurred despite the presence of security personnel along the notorious Otukpo-Otukpa portion of the federal highway is alarming.”
However, the police boss, in response to the incident, assured the public that the police would ensure the students return safe and unhurt.
The IGP, in a statement on Saturday signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, promised to deploy more personnel to the Benue State Police Command to complement the rescue operation.
“The IG has ordered the prompt deployment of a substantial number of human and technical resources to augment the manpower of the Benue State Command and ensure the swift rescue of our beloved students.”
Meanwhile, on Friday, some of the kidnapped victims took to social media platforms to ask Nigerians to assist in raising money for their release by donating 50 million naira.
One of the victims, Kwaghaondo Aondona Kingsley, tweeted via his X handle @King_aondona and wrote: “We were kidnapped on our way to Enugu for a convention @Nigerian_Doctor.
“They are requesting N50m for 20 of us, medical students. Please help us, and we haven’t eaten for two days. 08163420157 – Pius, that is who we are gathering the money with.”
In another development, the National Association of Resident Doctors has warned of a nationwide strike if their kidnapped member is not released by August 26.
This is coming as the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Calabar, the Cross River State capital located in Nigeria’s South-South region, called for the release of an abducted resident doctor of the National Eye Centre in Kaduna, Ganiyat Popoola.
Popoola was kidnapped along with her husband and nephew on December 27, 2023.
Although her husband was released in March, the doctor and her nephew, Abdul-Mugniy Folaranmi, still remain in captivity.
Almost appearing helpless at the situation, the association staged a protest on Thursday, demanding the release of their kidnapped member.