Twenty Nigerian medical students have been freed after being kidnapped on their way to a convention in Benue State on Thursday evening, the police announced on Saturday. 

Nigerian police released a statement on Saturday confirming "the release of the 20 students from the University of Maiduguri and University of Jos."

A few days after the students were kidnapped, the perpetrators contacted the victims' families demanding a ₦50 million ($32,000) ransom for their release. 

“Contrary to some tweets and unconfirmed stories that some money was paid, no kobo was paid to release them. They were actually rescued tactically and professionally,” police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi wrote on X. 

Release of 20 medical students and others. We confirm the release of our brothers and sisters and some other Nigerians who have been in captivity on Friday 23rd August 2024 in Ntunkon forest, Benue State. Without any ransom paid. Contrary to some tweets and unconfirmed stories… pic.twitter.com/SYD6Vr4zWj

— Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi (@Princemoye1) August 24, 2024

No details were provided on how the students were released from their captors, but Nigeria's police chief deployed a "tactical squad" in  Benue to rescue the victims. 

"We've spoken to them on the phone. They are safe," Fortune Olaye, secretary general of the NIMSA national medical students association, said to AFP.

Thousands of people are kidnapped for ransom in Nigeria each year, although reliable data is scarce. According to the Nigerian consultancy, SBM Intelligence, there were 4,777 reported kidnappings from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's assumption into office in May 2023 and January 2024.

Nigeria frees 137 kidnapped school girls, 1 staff member dead

After they were liberated by the Nigerian army a day earlier, over 100 Nigerian school children and staff members arrived on March 25 at the local government building north of the country.

"There are here 131 students, six others are currently being hospitalized and will be eventually discharged when they get better," said Major General MLD Saraso of the Nigerian army.

Saraso further explained that among the 138 individuals initially kidnapped, a member of the school staff had died in captivity.

Earlier, on March 24, the army declared the rescue of 137 hostages including 76 females and 61 males in the state of Zamfara, just days ahead of a deadline set by the kidnappers for the payment of a 1 billion naira ($690,000) ransom for their release.

The Nigerian government delivered 14 black bags, allegedly containing the total of the ransom money, according to a security insider who requested to remain anonymous.

In parallel, the Nigerian Information Minister Mohammed Idris told a press briefing in Abuja that no ransom was paid.