The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has strongly denounced the kidnapping of 20 medical students and a house officer in Benue State by gunmen on Thursday evening.
The students, from the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos, were en route to the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students’ annual convention in Enugu State when they were ambushed in Otukpo, Benue State.
In response, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has sent additional detectives to Benue State to aid in the rescue efforts and has also deployed tactical assets, including helicopters, drones, and vehicles, to ensure a swift rescue.
The health ministry expressed its sorrow and concern over the incident in a statement signed by Ado Bako, acting Director of Information and Public Relations, on Sunday, stating that the Ministry condemns the kidnapping and is deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of the abducted students and house officer.
The statement read, “The Ministry condemns this act of violence in the strongest terms and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of the abducted students. Their safety and well-being are paramount to us.
“We urge the relevant security agencies to intensify efforts to apprehend the perpetrators of this heinous crime and bring them to justice. We also call on those engaged in such criminal activities to cease these acts and respect the sanctity of human life.
“The kidnapping of medical students is a setback to the nation’s efforts to strengthen the healthcare workforce. It is crucial to create a safe and conducive environment for healthcare professionals to carry out their duties without fear of violence,” the statement added.
The ministry also expressed solidarity with the families of the kidnapped students.
“We will continue to monitor the situation closely and take appropriate measures to ensure the safety and security of healthcare professionals and students across the country,” it noted.
