Six students of the Nigerian Law School have been abducted by suspected gunmen in Benue State, with the kidnappers reportedly demanding ₦20 million for each student as ransom.
The victims were travelling from Onitsha, Anambra State, to the Yola campus of the Nigerian Law School in Adamawa State on Saturday when they were intercepted. They were returning to school after completing their court externship, as the campus was scheduled to reopen on Monday.
According to fellow students at the Yola campus, the abduction occurred late Saturday evening between Wukari in Taraba State and parts of Benue State—a region known for persistent insecurity and criminal activity along the highway.
One of the students, Damilare Adenola, who spoke from the Yola campus, confirmed the names of the kidnapped individuals as Reverend Ernest Okafor, Ogbuka Fabian, Nwamma Philip, Okechukwu Obadiegwu, Obalem Emmanuel, and Obiorah David.
Another student who chose to remain anonymous recounted the moment the news filtered in on Sunday morning. “Initially, we didn’t believe it. But when several attempts to reach them failed, we became worried. Then one of the victims briefly picked up a call and screamed that he had been kidnapped. In the background, we could hear noises before the line went off. He shouted that we should help raise ₦20 million
for his release,” the student shared.There are indications that families of the victims were contacted days earlier, with one of the spouses reportedly notifying classmates of the ordeal as early as Thursday.
A student leader at the Yola campus confirmed that the incident has been reported to the appropriate security authorities. “We have informed the police here in Adamawa. They are following up with their counterparts in Benue State, as the abduction did not occur within Adamawa jurisdiction,” the leader said.
The Adamawa State Police Command confirmed awareness of the incident but clarified that the event happened outside their operational zone. A spokesperson assured that collaboration with the Benue State Police Command and other sister agencies is ongoing to ensure the safe return of the students.
Efforts to reach the Benue State Police Command for comment were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
This is not the first time law students have fallen victim to kidnappers. In 2022, two Nigerian Law School students were abducted near the Agbani campus in Enugu State while shopping at a local market.
The current incident once again brings to light the grave security challenges plaguing Nigeria’s interstate travel routes and the risks students face while pursuing academic activities.
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