Gunmen in the north abduct 20 Nigerian students in an ambush

In a disturbing incident, approximately 20 university students from Nigeria were abducted by armed gunmen in the northern central region of the country, as confirmed by the police on Friday. The students, who were on their way to a medical conference in the southern part of the country, fell victim to the ambush in Benue state on Thursday evening. The attack occurred along the Otukpo road in Benue, a well-known area for kidnapping activities.
These kinds of abductions have unfortunately become a frequent occurrence in various parts of northern Nigeria, where numerous armed groups exploit the lack of adequate security measures to carry out assaults in villages and on major transportation routes. Victims often find themselves released only after hefty ransom payments, reaching into the thousands of dollars. This unfortunate trend has led many individuals to forgo traveling by road.
The students who were taken captive in Benue hail from the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos, both situated in the northern region of Nigeria. Student bodies from these universities have strongly condemned the attacks and are urging the authorities to take decisive action to ensure the safe and prompt return of the abducted students.
As of now, details regarding the identity of the group behind the attack or the location where the kidnapped students have been taken remain unclear. The police have not shared any updates on the efforts being made to secure the students’ release.
Expressing deep sorrow over the distressing incident, Ijabani Bajam, a student leader from the University of Maiduguri, emphasized in a statement the urgent need for the safe return of the abducted students, denouncing the act as senseless and unwarranted.