Rita Odafe
Authorities have apprehended an individual connected to the kidnapping of 20 medical students and a doctor in Benue State, as reported by the Zone 7 police command in Abuja.
The students were kidnapped in August 2024 while they were traveling through the Otukpo area towards Enugu.
A successful rescue operation was carried out by the National Security Adviser’s office, with cooperation from various security forces, including the police, DSS, and military units.
On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) for Zone 7, Mr. Benneth Igweh, revealed the arrest of the suspect during a press briefing in Abuja.
Igweh noted that this suspect, along with two others who fled, were part of a gang engaged in armed robberies and kidnappings in the Benue region.
The suspect admitted to being involved in the kidnapping of the medical students in Benue and had also participated in numerous robbery incidents along the Adiga road, where he stole motorcycles from travelers.
Additionally, he confessed to selling these stolen motorcycles and splitting the profits with his gang members, citing the use of protective charms during his criminal activities.
The AIG further disclosed that the suspect sold his firearm to a retired soldier in Akpodo for N25,000.
Igweh affirmed that efforts are underway to apprehend the other gang members who are still on the run and to bring them to justice.
