The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has strongly condemned the recent abduction of more than 20 medical and dental students from the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos.

The students were taken by armed assailants on Thursday evening while en route to the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) annual convention in Enugu.

The kidnapping took place around 5:30 PM in the Otukpo area of Benue State. The students, along with a House Officer, were ambushed during their journey, as confirmed by the State Police Command on Friday morning.

In a statement released on Friday, NANS Senate President Okunomo Henry Adewumi expressed grave concern over the incident and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the abducted students.

The student association has called upon security agencies to ensure that the victims are rescued safely and unharmed.

NANS denounced the abduction as a grim indication of the increasing insecurity in Nigeria, drawing parallels with recent violent events such as the abduction and killing of passengers in Ondo State and the brutal murder of a farmer by herdsmen in Oba Akoko, Ondo State.

The student body extended its deepest sympathy and support to the victims and their families, urging the government to take urgent and effective action to address these senseless acts of violence and to prevent future incidents.

The statement highlighted NANS’s commitment to advocating for the safety and well-being of Nigerian students and reminded the government of its responsibility to ensure the right to education and national security.

NANS called for several measures, including the immediate rescue of the abducted individuals, increased security presence in vulnerable regions of Benue and Ondo States, improved intelligence gathering and sharing, and enhanced protection for educational institutions, medical facilities, and local communities.

Furthermore, NANS demanded that the perpetrators of these crimes and any accomplices within security forces, educational institutions, and government agencies be prosecuted.

The organization also urged the governors of the affected states to collaborate closely with federal authorities to tackle the escalating security challenges in their regions effectively.