Six Days On, 20 UNIJOS and UNIMAID Medical Students Remain in Captivity
For nearly a week, the kidnapped UNIJOS and UNIMAID medical students have endured harsh conditions in captivity, while their families scramble to raise the ₦50 million ransom demanded by the abductors. Meanwhile, police rescue efforts have been criticised as slow.
For nearly a week, 20 medical students from the University of Jos and the University of Maiduguri, including a house officer, have endured harsh conditions in captivity after being abducted on the Otukpo-Enugu Highway while en route to the annual convention of the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS). Their families are scrambling to raise the ₦50 million ransom demanded by the kidnappers, while police rescue efforts have been criticised as slow and ineffective.
Despite the police’s assurances that rescue operations are ongoing, the students remain in captivity. A distressing tweet from Kingsley Aondona, one of the abducted students, posted on Friday, August 16, warned, “They said they would start killing us tomorrow [Saturday, August 17].” However, there has been no further update on their condition.
Olumuyiwa Adejobi, spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force, defended the police’s actions, stating, “Rescue operations are not like what you see in the movies. We must focus on assurances that the victims will be rescued unharmed, without divulging security strategies.” Adejobi said this in response to questions about the apparent ease with which the police track journalists and civilians compared to handling kidnappers
Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, announced that additional trained detectives have been deployed to Benue State to aid in the rescue efforts. However, some family members report that security operatives have privately admitted feeling powerless to resolve the situation.
“The Nigeria Police Force stands with the victims and their loved ones during this challenging time, and we are committed to ensuring the safe return of the students,” Egbetokun said, adding that advanced helicopters, drones, and specialised tactical vehicles have been deployed in the search.
On Sunday, Ignatius Kaigama, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, called on the government and security forces to expedite the rescue operation. “We strongly appeal to the government and security agencies to ensure the safe release of these students,” he said. Kaigama, who oversees the Abuja Province, which includes Benue State, was previously the Archbishop of Jos, where his ecclesiastical jurisdiction covered both Jos and Maiduguri—the sees of the affected Catholic students.
For the families and loved ones, it has been a devastating period.
“Ever since this incident, we have been thrown into a state of gloom, and have been working tirelessly with relevant parties to ensure their speedy release,” Ige Gabriel Ariyo, FECAMDS national president, said in a statement.