Gunmen have kidnapped at least 20 medical students in northern Nigeria, in the latest incident of its kind in the country in four months.

In a statement, the Nigerian police said that gunmen kidnapped at least 20 students who were travelling to attend a conference in Benue State in the central north of the country, noting that the incident occurred on Thursday, and that investigations are underway to determine the identity and whereabouts of the perpetrators.

The kidnapped students are medical and dental students who were travelling to Enugu State in the south-east of the country, she said, adding that the students’ parents have not received any communication from the kidnappers so far.

Armed gangs have been kidnapping farmers, students and motorists in exchange for ransom money, but security forces have been unable to stop these operations.