Six students of the Nigerian Law School have been abducted by gunmen suspected to be bandits in Benue State while travelling to resume academic activities at the institution’s Yola Campus in Adamawa State.
The incident, reported by NewsPointNigeria, occurred on the evening of Saturday, July 26, along the volatile Wukari-Benue border axis, a route notorious for frequent kidnappings, armed robberies, and attacks by criminal gangs.
The victims were reportedly travelling from Onitsha, Anambra State, after completing their mandatory court externship programme. The Yola campus of the Law School is scheduled to reopen on Monday, July 28.
A fellow student, Damilare Adenola, confirmed the incident, expressing grave concern for the abducted colleagues.
“Six students of the Nigerian Law School have been reportedly kidnapped by suspected armed bandits while travelling to resume school after their court externship break,” he said.
The abducted students have been identified as:
Rev. Ernest Okafor
Ogbuka Fabian
Nwamma Philip
Okechukwu Obadiegwu
Obalem Emmanuel
Obiorah David
A student union leader at the Yola campus, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, confirmed that the case had been reported to the relevant authorities.
“We are all in shock here in Yola. We’ve been in contact with the Adamawa State Police Command, but we’ve also been told that the incident happened outside their jurisdiction. We are waiting and praying for more concrete updates,” the union leader said.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Adamawa State Police Command, SP Yahaya Suleiman, acknowledged awareness of the abduction but clarified that it occurred outside Adamawa’s jurisdiction.
“The abduction did not happen within Adamawa borders. We’ve traced the location to an area near Benue,” Suleiman said.
He added that joint efforts were underway to secure the students’ safe return.
“We are in constant communication with the Benue State Police Command and other relevant security outfits. The safety of those travelling into or out of Adamawa is a top priority,” he said.
As of press time, multiple attempts to reach the spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, SP Anene Catherine, were unsuccessful. Calls and text messages to her mobile phone went unanswered, heightening concern among the victims’ families and the public.
Similarly, the Nigeria Police Force has yet to issue an official response. Efforts to obtain comments from the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, proved abortive. He did not respond to calls, text messages, or WhatsApp inquiries.
The continued silence from security authorities has deepened public anxiety over the students’ fate, as families, colleagues, and concerned citizens await updates on rescue efforts.
