Six Nigerian Law School students en route to the Yola campus in Adamawa State have been abducted by suspected gunmen, with a ransom of ₦20 million per student now being demanded for their release.
The victims—Rev. Ernest Okafor, Ogbuka Fabian, Nwamma Philip, Okechukwu Obadiegwu, Obalem Emmanuel, and Obiorah David—were traveling from Onitsha, Anambra State, to resume academic activities at the Yola campus following their court externship break. The abduction reportedly occurred late Saturday evening in Benue State, along a known volatile stretch between Wukari (Taraba State) and Benue.
Confirmation and Student Reactions
A fellow law student, Damilare Adenola, confirmed the abduction, stating that classmates began raising concerns when attempts to contact the victims failed. One of the abducted students briefly answered a phone call, confirming the kidnapping and pleading for ₦20 million to be sent for his release.
“There was noise in the background… then he screamed that he had been kidnapped,” another student, Chisom, recounted.
Students at the Yola campus say gunmen have already made contact with the victims’ families and classmates to begin ransom negotiations.
Police Response
A student leader at the Yola campus confirmed that the incident has been reported to the Adamawa State Police Command. However, DSP Yahaya Suleiman, spokesperson for the command, clarified that the abduction occurred outside their jurisdiction, in Benue State.
“The command is collaborating with officers and men of the Benue State Police Command to ensure these students are rescued,” Suleiman assured.
As of the time of this report, efforts to reach Benue State Police Command spokesperson Anene Catherine have been unsuccessful.
Background
The abduction comes amid growing concern over the safety of students and travelers in parts of Benue and Taraba states, which have witnessed frequent attacks and kidnappings. In a similar case in 2022, two students of the Agbani campus of the Nigerian Law School in Enugu State were abducted while shopping at a local market.
Call for Swift Action
As tensions rise among students and their families, there are urgent calls for decisive action by security agencies to ensure the safe and immediate rescue of the kidnapped law students and to address growing insecurity along key travel routes.
