There has been palpable tension among medical professionals since Thursday, following the abduction of 20 medical students from the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos.
Among the abductees is a house officer. They were all heading to the annual convention of the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) in Enugu State when the kidnappers cornered them.
The names of the abducted persons as listed by the Benue Medical Students Association (BEMSA) are as follows:
| S/N | NAMES | INSTITUTION |
| 1 | Okopi Peter | UNIJOS |
| 2 | Enger Benedicta | UNIJOS |
| 3 | Kwaghaondo Aondona Kingsley | UNIJOS |
| 4 | Boniface Okon | UNIMAID |
| 5 | Dondo Fabian | UNIMAID |
| 6 | John Bitrus Naga | UNIMAID |
| 7 | Fortune Chima Umeh | UNIMAID |
| 8 | Godwin Gregory Tumba | UNIMAID |
| 9 | Monica Ejembi | UNIJOS |
| 10 | Ogbonna George Chukwuebuka | |
| 11 | Paul Nyampa Zira | |
| 12 | Lawrence Victory Adaugo | |
| 13 | Boniface Tizhe | UNIMAID |
| 14 | Gabriel Jita Iwev | UNIMAID |
| 15 | Thomas Yahaya | UNIMAID |
| 16 | Paul Shantong | UNIJOS |
| 17 | Victoria Cornelius | UNIJOS |
| 18 | Pius Samson | UNIJOS |
| 19 | Okan Adara | UNIJOS |
| 20 | Dr Luis Mmbamonyeukwu |
FIJ has learnt that the kidnappers have demanded a ransom of N50 million and have threatened to start killing some of the students if they don’t get the money on Saturday.
In the past few days, doctors, nurses and other medical professionals have decried the continued abduction of their colleagues.
Ganiyat Popoola, a resident doctor at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna, was abducted eight months ago and has not regained freedom since then.
On Wednesday, the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) threatened to embark on a nationwide strike if Popoola is not free by August 26.
