- Gunmen abducted over 20 medical and dental students, house officer in the Otukpo area of Benue State
- UCH, Ibadan resident doctors protested, demanded the release of abducted colleague
- President of the Association of Resident Doctors UCH branch, Dr John Oladapo, urged FG to intervene, called on kidnappers to release victim
The victims, reportedly students of the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos, were travelling as a group, heading to Enugu for the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) annual convention when they were ambushed at around 5:30 p.m. in the Otukpo area.
Investigation into kidnapping is ongoing
The Benue State Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Catherine Anene, verified the incident and reported that an investigation into the kidnapping is now underway.
She said, “Yes, the report of the kidnapping is true. It was received between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., and an investigation is ongoing.”
UCH, Ibadan resident doctors protested, demanded release of abducted colleague
In a related event, resident doctors at University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, protested on Friday, August 16, demanding the immediate release of Dr Ganiyat Popoola, a Senior Registrar in the Department of Opthalmology, National Eye Centre, Kaduna who was abducted on December 27, 2023, alongside her nephew, Abdul-Mugniy Folaranmi, and husband.
Her husband was freed in March, but Ganiyat and her nephew continue to be held in captivity.
NARD threatens nationwide strike over colleague abduction
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a threat to go on a nationwide strike if their abducted colleague is not released by August 26.
The resident doctors displayed placards with different messages, including “Seven months and counting in captivity is unacceptable”, “It is not a crime to be a doctor”, and “#Bring back our Doctor Ganiyat now,” among others.
The association threatened to initiate a strike if the government did not secure Popoola’s release within the next week.
Oladapo urges FG to intervene
The President of the Association of Resident Doctors UCH branch, Dr John Oladapo, urged the Federal Government to instruct security agencies and other relevant authorities to increase their efforts to ensure the victims are safely returned.
He also called on the kidnappers to release their victims, highlighting the severe humanitarian and ethical impact of their continued detention.
“We also appeal to the general public to join us in this call and stand together against such acts of terror and violence. Let us amplify our voices and show solidarity with the families affected.
“The essence of our humanity lies in our collective responsibility to protect one another.
“The victim has spent her life caring for others. Now, it is our turn to care for her and her nephew,” he said.
Military deploys troops to protect farmers in the North, as banditry, terrorism rise
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Defence Headquarters has announced the deployment of troops to farms throughout the northern regions of the country, with a particular focus on the North West and North Central areas.
The military high command has indicated that the purpose of the deployment is to secure farmers from bandits, terrorists, and other forms of criminal activity.