By ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigerian police have launched a search operation for 20 medical students and a doctor who were kidnapped by gunmen on Thursday in central Benue State, authorities said Monday.
The students from universities in Jos and Maiduguri, along with the accompanying doctor, were en route to a medical convention in eastern Enugu State when their motorcade was intercepted.
Anene Sewuese Catherine, the Benue State police public relations officer, told The Associated Press via phone that tactical teams have been deployed on a rescue mission. “The team has moved but we’ve not heard from them,” Catherine said. “Investigation of kidnap is classified, we don’t [share] details or until there’s success. There’s no update for now.”
The national police have ordered the deployment of helicopters, drones, and specialized tactical teams to aid in the search, underscoring the severity of the incident.
The Nigerian Medical Students Association reported that the kidnappers, using the students’ phones, have demanded approximately $31,400 for the release of the entire group.
Moses Onwubuya, the association’s national president, expressed growing frustration with the authorities’ response. “The only response we’ve been getting is that we should just calm down, that security agencies are in the matter,” Onwubuya said. He added that students are threatening to protest if their colleagues are not released soon.
This abduction has reignited concerns about Nigeria’s security crisis. The country has grappled for years with violence from armed gangs, locally referred to as “bandits.”
According to the Center for Democracy and Development — West Africa, Nigeria recorded more than 4,000 abductions in 2023, accounting for 58 percent of the total cases in West Africa and marking a five-year high.
Security analysts attribute the rise in kidnappings for ransom to Nigeria’s severe economic crisis, which they say is pushing more people toward crime.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation and renewed calls for the government to address the country’s security challenges. Nigerian authorities have pledged to tackle both economic problems and security issues, but families of victims remain anxious for the safe return of their loved ones.
As the search continues, the case highlights the ongoing security challenges facing Africa’s most populous nation and the impact on its citizens, particularly students and healthcare workers.
AP
