The 22 medical students kidnapped on the Otukpo-Enugu Highway on Thursday 15th August reached out from the den of their kidnappers yesterday narrating the physical and psychological torture they have been passing through.
They said they have not had a meal since they were abducted while the gunmen who abducted them are demanding a ransom of N50 million with a threat to start killing them if the demand is not met.
However, a police operation aimed at rescuing them got underway yesterday.
Helicopters, drones, and personnel were deployed for the operation at the instance of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia deplored the students’ abduction and prayed for their immediate rescue.
The 20 abductees, who are from the Universities of Jos and Maiduguri, were named yesterday. They were seized by the gunmen while on their way to Enugu to attend the annual convention of the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students in the city.
The Police Public Relations Office (PPRO) of the Benue State Command, Kate Aneene, said the students were traveling in two buses when the gunmen pounced on them on the Otukpo-Enugu highway at about 7pm on the fateful day.
On the list released yesterday by the Benue Medical Students Association (BEMSA) were Boniface Tizhe, Thomas Yahaya, Gabriel Jita Iwev, Boniface Okon, Dondo Fabian, John Bitrus Naga, Fortune Chima Umeh, Godwin Gregory Tumba, Monica Ejembi and Ogbonna George Chukwuebuka.
Others are Paul Nyampa Zira, Lawrence Victory Adaugo, Okopi Peter, Enger Benedicta, Kwaghaondo Aondona Kingsley, Paul Shantong, Victoria Cornelius, Pius Samson, Okan Adara and Dr. Luis Mmbamonyeukwu, a House Officer
One of the kidnapped students, Aondona Kingsley, managed to get words across on his X handle @King aondona yesterday, painting a picture of what they have been going through.
He said: “We were kidnapped on our way to Enugu for a convention @Nigerian Doctor. They are requesting for 50 million 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 a separate message, he said: “They said they would start killing us tomorrow.”
Inspector General Egbetokun described the abduction of the students as “truly appalling, callous and unacceptable.”
Spokesman for the Police Olumuyiwa Adejobi said in a statement that Egbetokun, in keeping with the police unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of the young Nigerians, had “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.”
The move, according to the police spokesman, “encompasses the mobilization of additional tactical units from the FID-STS and FID-IRT, the deployment of advanced helicopters and drones, as well as the use of specialized tactical vehicles to facilitate the search and secure the safe return of the victims.”
He added: “The Nigeria Police Force stands with the victims and their loved ones during this challenging time, and we are committed to ensuring the safe return of the students.
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