Eighteen medical students from the University of Jos (UNIJOS) and the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) have been abducted in Benue State. The students, who were en route to the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) annual conference at the Enugu State University of Technology, were seized on the Otukpo-Enugu highway on Thursday evening.
Twelve of the kidnapped students are from UNIJOS, and six are from UNIMAID. The abduction occurred approximately 8 to 10 kilometers after Otukpo, in the Oglewu area, which is over a hundred kilometers from Enugu. The information was first reported through an SOS message sent by one of the students to the FECAMDS WhatsApp group, which included Google Maps locations of the incident.
The Benue State Police Command confirmed the abduction. Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Ms. Sewuese Anene stated, “This information is received and investigation is ongoing.”
Prof. Tanko Ishaya, Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, also confirmed the incident. He noted that the university had been informed about the kidnapping and had promptly notified security agencies. “We have been informed that 12 of our students and six students from the University of Maiduguri were abducted. We are following up with security agencies to secure their release,” Prof. Ishaya said.
Initially, the Senior Deputy Registrar of UNIJOS, Mr. Abdullahi Abdullahi, was unaware of the situation but later confirmed the abduction. He reported that the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) has contacted the state Commissioner of Police and the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) to coordinate efforts for the students’ release.
The incident has raised concerns about security in the region, especially as the students were traveling to a significant academic event. Authorities and university officials are working closely to address the situation and ensure the students’ safe return.
