Health ministry condemns abduction of medical students in Benue

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has condemned the abduction of 20 medical students and a house officer in Benue State.

The students and house officer were kidnapped by gunmen on Thursday evening in Benue State.

It was reported that the students from the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos were traveling to the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students’ annual convention in Enugu State when they were attacked by gunmen in Otukpo, Benue State.

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has dispatched additional detectives to Benue State to assist in the rescue of the abducted medical students.

Egbetokun has also ordered the deployment of tactical operatives and assets, including helicopters, drones, and tactical vehicles, to ensure the swift rescue of the kidnapped students.

Meanwhile, the health ministry, in a statement signed by the acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Ado Bako, on Sunday, expressed its sadness and concern over the kidnapping of the 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 stated.