Six students of the Nigerian Law School, Yola campus, have been abducted by armed men along the notorious Wukari-Benue road while returning from their court externship, sparking fresh concerns over the safety of Nigerian roads.
The abduction reportedly took place late Saturday, July 26, 2025, as the students were en route to the Yola campus in Adamawa State for the resumption of academic activities slated for Monday, July 28.
The victims — identified as Rev. Ernest Okafor, Ogbuka Fabian, Nwamma Philip, Okechukwu Obadiegwu, Obalem Emmanuel, and Obiorah David — were said to be traveling in a vehicle belonging to AJ Dan Pullo Transport Company, a commercial operator based in Onitsha, Anambra State.
A student familiar with the incident, who gave his name only as Johnson, told Platform Times that the kidnappers had already contacted the families of the victims and demanded a ransom of N20 million.
“These are students who just completed their court attachment and were returning to school. We were all supposed to resume for classes on Monday. Now, their lives are hanging in the balance,” the student lamented.
As at the time of filing this report, neither the Nigerian Law School authorities nor security agencies had issued an official statement on the incident.
The Wukari-Benue corridor — long plagued by frequent kidnappings and violent attacks — continues to pose grave risks to commuters despite several security deployments in the past.
Civil society groups and parents of the abducted students are calling on the Inspector General of Police and the military high command to act swiftly to secure the release of the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“This is beyond tragic,” said a legal practitioner and security analyst, Barrister Adewale Ojo.
“When law school students — the future of Nigeria’s justice system — can’t travel safely, then we are facing a national emergency.”
The incident adds to the growing list of abductions across Nigeria, especially in the North-Central region, where kidnapping for ransom has become rampant.
Security experts have urged government at both federal and state levels to declare a state of emergency on the country’s internal security and establish a special task force to tackle criminal gangs operating along major highways.
Meanwhile, family members of the abducted students have appealed for public support and government intervention to ensure their loved ones return safely.
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