Six students of the Nigerian Law School were abducted on Saturday, July 26, along the dangerous Benue-Taraba road while travelling to resume classes at the Yola campus in Adamawa State. The kidnappers have now threatened to kill the students if their ransom demands are not met.
The students — Rev. Ernest Okafor, Ogbuka Fabian, Nwamma Philip, Okechukwu Obadiegwu, Obalem Emmanuel, and Obiorah David — were returning from a court externship break in Onitsha, Anambra State, and were scheduled to start lectures on Monday, July 28.
According to a source close to the students, the kidnappers initially demanded N20 million per victim but have increased the ransom to N50 million each. The abductors warned families and friends not to involve security agencies, threatening that the students’ lives would be at risk if authorities are contacted.
“They said they will kill them if we refuse to pay the ransom. They told us to stay silent and comply if we want the victims alive,” the source said.
The Adamawa State Police confirmed that they are aware of the incident and are working with security operatives in Benue State to rescue the students. Attempts to get comments from the Benue State Police spokesperson were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
This kidnapping highlights the persistent security risks along major highways in Nigeria, especially in the North-Central region, where many travelers fall victim to bandits and kidnappers. Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to help curb such crimes.
