The kidnappers of 20 medical students from the University of Maiduguri, the University of Jos, and a House Officer have demanded a ransom of N50 million for their release. The students were abducted on the evening of Thursday, August 15, 2024, along the Otukpo-Enugu road in Benue State while traveling to the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) annual convention in Enugu State.
The Benue State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Catherine Anene, confirmed the kidnapping in Makurdi. She stated that the students were traveling together in two buses when they were intercepted by criminals after passing through Otukpo town and taken to an unknown location.
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On Friday night, the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FCMDS) released the full names of the kidnapped members, which include 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 Mbamonyeukwu, the House Officer.
On Saturday, one of the kidnapped students, Kwaghaondo Aondona Kingsley, managed to use his phone to send a desperate message on his X (formerly Twitter) account. In his tweet, Kingsley revealed that the group had been without food for two days and urged the government and the families of the victims to intervene for their immediate release.
“We were kidnapped on our way to Enugu for a convention. They are requesting 50 million naira for the 20 of us medical students. Please help us, we haven’t eaten for two days,” Kingsley tweeted from the kidnappers’ den. “They said they would start killing us tomorrow,” he added.
When contacted, SP Catherine Anene stated that she had no information regarding the ransom demand
