Freedom has finally come the way of the 20 medical students kidnapped last Thursday in Benue State.
This was revealed on Friday by security sources who also disclosed that the students were rescued through an operation coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser.
According to the sources, the rescue operation involved the police, DSS, and military personnel, and other security agencies, along with support from the Benue State government.
But details of the rescue operation were still sketchy at the time of this report.
The Crest recalls that medical students were abducted last Thursday along the Otukpo/Otukpa/Enugu federal highway while travelling to Enugu State for the annual convention of the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students.
News of the abduction of the students went viral last Friday, triggering nationwide outrage by Nigerians who felt this was one kidnapping too many. And they called on the Nigeria Police Force, especially Inspector General of Police, Dr. Kayode Egbetokun, to move in speedily to ensure that the students were rescued and safely reunited with their Families.
Following public outcry, the IG Team arrived Benue State on Monday and was promptly deployed to Otukpo in search of the kidnap victims.
The medical students were reported to be travelling in two buses and when they ran into the ambush laid by the kidnappers around Otukpo, Benue State, on Thursday evening at about 5:30 p.m.
Their captors established contact with the victims’ families a few days later demanding a ransom of ₦50 million to secure the release of their hostages.
It was not clear, at press time, if any ransom was paid or not.