Gov Hyacinth Alia of Benue state has urged security agencies in the state to take steps towards rescuing the 20 medical students that were abducted in the state.

Recall that the said students who were on transit from the Universities of Maiduguri and Jos were ambushed and taken away by gunmen near Otukpo along the busy  Otukpo-Enugu highway while on their way to Enugu for the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) Annual Convention.

Governor Alia in a statement issued Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula “condemned in strong terms the abduction of the student Doctors.

“He warns the criminal elements operating within the state to find another base, as his administration will not rest on its oars to stamp out all forms of criminality in the state.”

READ ALSO: 20 traveling medical students abducted by armed men in Benue

The Otukpo-Ugbokolo-Otukpa-Enugu axis of Benue state has become notorious for kidnap of motorists in the last few years.

Only recently the management team of the Benue State Polytechnic, led by the Rector were kidnapped on that axis.

This was aside several other victims including Catholic Priests and several road users who were at different times abducted for ransom by armed men who have laid siege on that part of the state.