Bandits who kidnapped 20 medical students and a House Officer from the University of Maiduguri and University of Jos have demanded a N50 million ransom for their release. The students were abducted on Thursday night along the Otukpo-Enugu Highway in Benue State.
The Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FCMDS) released the names of the kidnapped students, who were travelling in two buses when they were intercepted by the bandits.
One of the students, Kwaghaondo Aondona Kingsley, managed to send a desperate message on social media, revealing that they had not eaten for two days and pleading for government and family intervention.
The bandits threatened to start killing the students on Sunday if the ransom is not paid. Efforts to contact the Benue State Police Command for an update were unsuccessful.
The students’ names are:
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
11. Paul Nyampa Zira
12. Lawrence Victory Adaugo
13. Okopi Peter
14. Enger Benedicta
15. Kwaghaondo Aondona Kingsley
16. Paul Shantong
17. Victoria Cornelius
18. Pius Samson
19. Okan Adara
20. Dr. Luis Mmbamonyeukwu (House Officer)
The situation remains dire, and the students’ fate hangs in the balance.
