One of the students was released earlier, while the remaining five were freed in the early hours of Friday.
All six Nigerian Law School students abducted in Benue State on July 26, 2025, have regained their freedom.
One of the students was released earlier, while the remaining five were freed in the early hours of Friday.
The victims are Rev. Ernest Okafor, Ogbuka Fabian, Nwamma Philip, Okechukwu Obadiegwu, Obalem Emmanuel, and Obiorah David.
Contrary to an earlier official statement by the Benue State Police Command suggesting a rescue operation, a reliable source familiar with the development told SaharaReporters that the students were released in the early hours of Friday, August 1, after a ransom was paid, though the exact amount remains undisclosed.
“I’m very sure ransom was paid, but it hasn’t been made public. I’ve spoken with one of them. They were released early this (Friday) morning and are currently on their way back to the Yola campus,” the source said.
The students were abducted while travelling from Onitsha, Anambra State, to the Yola campus of the Nigerian Law School in Adamawa State, following a court externship break. Lectures were scheduled to resume the following Monday.
The abduction occurred along the notoriously unsafe Wukari–Benue route, where armed bandits are known to operate.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that the kidnappers demanded N100 million in ransom from the victims’ families.
A sixth student who was also abducted during the incident was released earlier, bringing the total number of freed students to six.
In its earlier statement on Friday, the Benue State Police Command confirmed the release but provided no details regarding the circumstances.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Edet Udeme, said, “Police authorities confirmed the rescue, assuring the public of their commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property.”
As of the time of filing this report, the five released students were en route to the Nigerian Law School campus in Yola, Adamawa State.
Leave a Reply