One of the six Nigerian Law School Students that were recently abducted by gunmen, David Obiora, has declared that each of the victim paid a ransom of N10 million to regain freedom from their abductors and were not in any way rescued by the police.
The six Nigerian Law School students were kidnapped on July 20, 2025, along the Zaki-Ibiam-Mukari Expressway in Benue State while traveling in a commercial bus operated by Al Dampulo Company Transport Limited en route to Yola Campus of the school.
Obiora said they spent five brutal days in captivity, precisely from July 26 to July 31, 2025, stressing that they were only released after each of them paid a ransom of ₦10 million.
Obiora, who hailed from Anambra State, revealed chilling details of their ordeal and how he and other victims were kidnapped and specifically debunked claims by the Nigeria Police that they were rescued.
He said that contrary to Police reports, no security operatives facilitated their freedom, saying; “The Police didn’t rescue us. We paid ransom. We were afraid the kidnappers might kill us. So, they stayed away”.
Recounting how they were kidnapped, Obiora said; “The road was blocked with sticks and tables. The driver tried to turn back, but we got stuck. That’s when the kidnappers struck.
“Those of us kidnapped were six law students and several traders. We were beaten daily, starved, and forced to drink muddy water.”
Obiora described their eventual escape, which involved trekking for hours through the bush from Benue into Taraba State, as traumatic, adding that they found refuge in one restaurant near a motor park, where a transport manager later helped arrange their journey to Yola.
He alleged that the local community was complicit in their captivity; saying; “An elderly woman cooked for us. Children watched us go to ease ourselves. Nobody tried to help, it’s a community business. The area is Jota, a Tiv-populated community in Benue State”.
Obiora also said the kidnappers operate with impunity, openly boasting about their years in the trade.
According to him; “One of them, a former soldier, revealed that he had been in the business for nine years, owned multiple cars, and funded his family’s comfortable life outside the forest.
“The former soldier told us that the group pays off corrupt military personnel and employs a spiritualist from Kano who uses charms to warn and suppress security forces.”
“They said they don’t kill their victims, just collect ransom and release. They are shielded by the community. That’s why I believe only military airstrikes can clear the area”, Obiora stressed.
The kidnap victim therefore called on the Nigerian Military to launch a full-scale operation, including airstrikes, to dismantle the criminal network entrenched in the vast area.
