Police arrests suspect linked to kidnap of 21 medical students in Benue

Police operatives in Abuja have arrested a suspect linked to the August 2024 kidnap of 21 medical students in Benue State.

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 7, Mr. Benneth Igweh, disclosed this during a media briefing on Tuesday in Abuja.

Igweh said the suspect and two others, now at large, were members of a gang that specialises in armed robbery and kidnapping in Benue and environs.

According to him, the suspect had confessed that he was a member of the gang responsible for the kidnap of the medical students.

READ ALSO: Police uncovers gun factories in Benue

He said the suspect had also confessed to have carried out several robbery operations along Adiga Road in Benue where he had snatched different motorcycles from travelers.

Igweh said the suspect who admitted to selling the motorcycles and sharing the proceeds with his gang members.

The AIG said the suspect also confessed to selling his rifle to one retired soldier in Akpodo for N25,000.

He said efforts were being intensified by the zone to ensure that the fleeing members of the gang were apprehended and prosecuted.

Gunmen had on August 15 last year kidnapped the students from the University of Maiduguri and University of Jos who were on their way to a convention in Enugu State.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now