Bandits who abducted 20 medical students of the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos and a House Officer have demanded N50 million ransom for their release.
The victims were kidnapped on Thursday night along the Otukpo- Enugu Highway, Benue State.
The Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students(FCMDS), on Friday night, reportedly released the full names of her kidnapped members after the incident was confirmed by the Benue State Police Command.
The command police public relations officer SP Catherine Anene who confirmed the development to our correspondent in Makurdi, said the students were travelling together in two buses when they were intercepted by some criminals after Otukpo town and were taken to an unknown destination.
Similarly, the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students(FCMDS), on Friday night, reportedly released the full names of the kidnapped members.
They gave the names of the affected victims to include; (1)Boniface Tizhe, (2)Thomas Yahaya, (3)Gabriel Jita Iwev, (4)Boniface Okon, (5)Dondo Fabian, (6)John Bitrus Naga, (7)Fortune Chima Umeh, (8)Godwin Gregory Tumba, (9)Monica Ejembi, (10)Ogbonna George Chukwuebuka.
Others are ; (11)Paul Nyampa Zira, (12)Lawrence Victory Adaugo, (13) Okopi Peter, (14)Enger Benedicta, (15)Kwaghaondo Aondona Kingsley, (16)Paul Shantong and (17)Victoria Cornelius, as well as (18)Pius Samson, (19)Okan Adara and (20)Dr. Luis Mmbamonyeukwu a House Officer.
But on Saturday, one of the students, Kwaghaondo Aondona Kingsley, manoeuvred his phone and alerted the public by posting a desperate message on his X account.
In his tweet, Kingsley revealed that the group of students had been without food for two days, and called on the government and families of 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. Contact Pius at 08163420157—he is coordinating the funds,” said one of the kidnapped victims who tweeted from the kidnappers’ den.
“They said they would start killing us tomorrow,” Kingsley said.
Efforts to get an update from the Benue State police command on the situation proved abortive as the PPRO SP Catherine Anene could not be reached on the phone
