Benue Police Successfully Rescue Six Kidnapped Law Students.
The Benue State Police Command has announced the successful rescue of six Nigerian Law School students who were abducted while travelling from Anambra to Adamawa. The students, enrolled at the Yola Campus, were safely reunited with their families on the morning of 1 August 2025, following a swift and coordinated operation by the police.
The students—Rev. Ernest Okafor, Ogbuka Fabian, Nwamma Philip, Okechukwu Obadiegwu, Obalem Emmanuel, and Obiorah David—were kidnapped on 26 July 2025 along the Joota/Wukari Federal Highway, a route notorious for banditry. They were travelling in a commercial vehicle operated by AJ Dan Pullo Transport Company, en route to resume academic activities after a court externship break. The abduction occurred in a volatile border region between Ukum Local Government Area in Benue and Wukari in Taraba, where armed groups frequently target commuters.
According to a statement from DSP Edet Udeme, the Police Public Relations Officer, the students were rescued on High Tension Road in Wukari, Taraba, and taken to the Ukum Divisional Police Headquarters before being reunited with their families. “The police have successfully rescued six law students of the Yola campus, who were abducted on 26 July 2025, while travelling from Anambra to Adamawa. They have been safely released and united with their families this morning,” Udeme confirmed. The police expressed gratitude for public cooperation but did not disclose specific details about the rescue operation.
However, a source familiar with the incident, cited by SaharaReporters, suggested that the students’ release followed the payment of an undisclosed ransom, contradicting initial police claims of a rescue operation. The source noted, “I’m very sure ransom was paid, but it hasn’t been made public. They were released early this morning and are currently on their way back to the Yola campus.” The kidnappers had reportedly demanded N100 million from the victims’ families.
The rescue has been met with widespread relief, with the Benue State Police reaffirming their commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property. The incident highlights ongoing security challenges along the Benue-Taraba border, a region plagued by frequent kidnappings and banditry. Authorities have urged travellers to exercise caution on such routes and report suspicious activities promptly.
This successful operation follows other recent efforts by the Nigeria Police Force to combat kidnapping. In March 2025, police in Taraba State rescued 20 victims during a gun battle, recovering abandoned vehicles, while in Nasarawa, two university students were freed after a forest operation. These actions underscore the police’s intensified crackdown on organised crime across the country.
For the students and their families, the ordeal’s end brings hope and gratitude. The Yola Campus of the Nigerian Law School is set to resume lectures as scheduled, with the rescued students now safely en route to continue their studies.