Six students of the Nigerian Law School have been abducted by suspected gunmen in Benue State while traveling from Onitsha, Anambra State, to the Yola campus in Adamawa State. The kidnappers are reportedly demanding ₦20 million for each student, totaling ₦120 million.
The abduction occurred on Saturday along a volatile route between Wukari in Taraba State and a part of Benue State, notorious for insecurity and frequent attacks on travelers. The students were en route to resume academic activities after their court externship break.
A fellow law student, Damilare Adenola, confirmed the incident, identifying the victims as Rev. Ernest Okafor, Ogbuka Fabian, Nwamma Philip, Okechukwu Obadiegwu, Obalem Emmanuel, and Obiorah David.
Speaking to PUNCH Metro, a student named Chisom recounted attempts to contact some of the victims. “I tried calling three of them, but their numbers were off. Eventually, one picked up and shouted that he had been kidnapped, urging a colleague to send ₦20 million for his release,” Chisom said.
A student leader at the Yola campus confirmed that the case had been reported to the police. “We’ve contacted the Adamawa State Police Command, but we’re still waiting for updates,” the leader said.
Spokesperson of the Adamawa State Police Command, Yahaya Suleiman, confirmed the command’s awareness of the abduction but clarified that it occurred outside their jurisdiction. He noted that both the Adamawa and Benue commands are collaborating to ensure the students’ safe rescue.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, Anene Catherine, were unsuccessful as of press time.
This is not the first time law school students have been targeted. In 2022, two students from the Agbani campus in Enugu State were abducted near a local market.
