The Zone 7 police command headquarters in Abuja says it has arrested a suspect linked to the abduction of 20 medical students and a doctor in Benue State.
The students were abducted in August 2024 while travelling through the Otukpo Local Government Area en route to Enugu.
The victims were rescued in an operation coordinated by the office of the National Security Adviser, with involvement from multiple security agencies, including the police, DSS and military.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of zone 7, Mr. Benneth Igweh, paraded the suspect at zonal command in Abuja, on Tuesday, January 28, 2025.
He said the suspect and two others, now at large, were members of a gang that specializes in armed robbery and kidnapping in Benue and environs.
According to him, the suspect had confessed being a member of the gang responsible for the abduction of the medical students in Benue.
He said the suspect had also confessed to have carried out several robbery operations along Adiga road in Benue state where he had snatched different motorcycles from travelers.
Igweh said the suspect who admitted selling the motorcycles and sharing the proceeds with his gang members, said he used a lot of charms for protection during his criminal operations.
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.