The 20 abducted medical students who were kidnapped in Benue State en route to Enugu for a church conference have been released from custody.
News About Nigeria reports that the medical students were released alongside their house officers, who were travelling with them on Friday, August 23, 2024.
Confirming their release, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force, revealed that no dime was paid for their release.
According to Adejobi, the victims, who were held in the Ntunkon forest, Ado Local Government Area of Benue State, were rescued on Friday by the office of the National Security Adviser without payment of ransom.
He further revealed that the medical students have been reunited with their families after a proper medical checkup.
The Police PRO also tasked the general public to disregard rumours that ransom was paid to ascertain the freedom of the kidnapped medical students.
The statement partly reads, “Without any ransom paid. Contrary to some tweets and unconfirmed stories that some money was paid. No kobo was paid to release them. They were actually rescued tactically and professionally.”
Recall that medical students from the Universities of Jos and Maiduguri and their accompanying doctors were abducted on Thursday, August 15, on their way to the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) annual convention.
The next day after their abduction, their abductors demanded a ₦50 million ransom.
Although crowdfunding attempts were made, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, via the FECAMDS National Chaplain, reportedly asked that the campaign be put on hold as deliberations with security operatives were ongoing.
