Six Nigerian Law School Students Abducted Along Wukari-Benue Road, Bandits Demand ₦20 Million Ransom

 

A dark shadow has been cast over Nigeria’s legal and academic institutions following the abduction of six students from the Nigerian Law School. The victims, all en route to resume studies at the Yola campus in Adamawa State, were kidnapped by suspected bandits along the treacherous Wukari-Benue highway on the night of Saturday, July 26, 2025.

These students, who had just completed their mandatory court externship, were expected to rejoin their peers ahead of the new academic resumption. Their journey was supposed to be a routine return to campus, but it quickly descended into a nightmare. Traveling in a commercial vehicle operated by AJ Dan Pullo Transport Company, they encountered armed criminals along a route notorious for violent ambushes and abductions.

The victims have been identified as Rev. Ernest Okafor, Ogbuka Fabian, Nwamma Philip, Okechukwu Obadiegwu, Obalem Emmanuel, and Obiorah David. Sources say they were intercepted at a particularly isolated stretch of the road, an area long recognized as unsafe due to the absence of consistent security presence.

Reports from fellow students and family members confirm that the kidnappers have contacted the victims’ families and are demanding a ₦20 million ransom for their release. A fellow Yola campus student, Johnson, confirmed that the abductors have set a deadline and warned the families not to involve law enforcement.

Anxiety and panic are spreading fast among families and classmates. Many are scrambling to raise funds, terrified by the kidnappers’ threats. One distraught family member, who asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons, revealed that the family has received multiple calls filled with grim ultimatums. “They told us to raise the money or risk losing our brother. We are scared and completely helpless,” the relative said over the phone.

Despite the severity of the situation, silence continues to emanate from institutions and officials who should be taking the lead. The Nigerian Law School has yet to issue any formal statement. Likewise, both the Nigerian Police Force and the Adamawa State government have remained quiet, offering no public reassurance, updates, or plans for intervention.

This lack of response has triggered outrage across student unions, civil rights organizations, and concerned citizens. Critics argue that the failure of authorities to respond to such incidents is eroding public confidence in government institutions. The legal education sector, which has traditionally stood as a beacon of national pride, now faces direct threats from unchecked criminality.

Security analysts believe the implications of this trend run deep. Abdul Kareem Musa, a security expert based in Kaduna, warned that the growing vulnerability of students paints a bleak picture of Nigeria’s development trajectory. “If students cannot travel safely to fulfill their academic obligations, then what hope is there for national growth? This is not just a security problem; it's a symptom of institutional failure,” he said.

The Wukari-Benue corridor has long been flagged by travelers and watchdog groups as a danger zone. Despite numerous incidents in the past, there has been no strategic intervention to sanitize the route. Commercial vehicles still ply the road due to the lack of alternative transport links, forcing countless Nigerians to risk their lives each time they travel.

Within the Nigerian Law School community, fear and uncertainty have gripped students. Some are now calling for an urgent postponement of the resumption date until adequate safety can be assured. There is a rising demand for emergency action, including military patrols along the road, aerial surveillance, and the provision of secure transportation for students.

Human rights groups have urged swift and coordinated efforts to locate and rescue the students. They stress that allowing this case to go unresolved would not only endanger the victims but also send a dangerous message that criminality will go unpunished.

Meanwhile, the families of the abducted students wait in agony, each hour stretching longer than the last. Many are turning to the public and philanthropic organizations for help in raising the ransom, even as they pray for government intervention.

This latest abduction underscores the urgent need for a national dialogue on security, infrastructure, and the protection of students across Nigeria. As the fate of the six abducted future lawyers hangs in uncertainty, the situation represents more than a tragedy for their families; it stands as a damning indictment of a system struggling to fulfill its most basic duty, to protect its citizens.