Security sources have confirmed the rescue of 20 medical students who were kidnapped in Benue State.
According to Channels Television, the successful operation was coordinated by the National Security Adviser’s office with support from various security agencies, including the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the military. The Benue State government also played a vital role in the operation.
The students, who were abducted last Thursday while traveling through Otukpo Local Government Area on their way to Enugu State, have now been freed. However, specific details of the rescue operation remain scarce.
The kidnapping of the students had caused widespread outrage across Nigeria, drawing attention to the escalating problem of abductions in the country. The victims were traveling in a convoy of two buses from northern Nigeria when bandits ambushed them around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.
After the abduction, the kidnappers contacted the victims’ families, demanding a ransom of ₦50 million for their release. Due to the swift and coordinated efforts of security forces, the students have now been safely returned, although more details about the operation have yet to be released.