Freed law student recounts ordeal in kidnappers den

One of the six students of the Nigerian Law School kidnapped along the Wukari-Zaki-Biam expressway on July 26, 2025, David Obiorah, has shared a chilling account of their ordeal, shedding light on the horrors they endured in the hands of their abductors.

The students — David Obiorah, Ernest Okafor, Fabian Ogbuka, Philip Nwamma, Okechukwu Obadiegwu, and Emmanuel Obalem — were kidnapped on Saturday, July 26, 2025, en route to the Law School campus in Adamawa State.

The attack occurred around 9:00 p.m. near Jootar town in Benue State, between army and police checkpoints.

In an exclusive interview with journalist Gift Oba, David Obiorah recounted how their bus was ambushed and hijacked by armed men, believed to be members of a Tiv militia group.

“They mounted roadblocks and attacked us when we slowed down. They had AK-47 rifles, cutlasses, and daggers,” Obiorah said.

The kidnappers, numbering over ten, led their captives 20 kilometers into the forest. The abductees — 13 passengers including six law students, two male adults, two female adults, and three children — were later separated. Some were released early, but the six students remained in captivity.

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At the kidnappers’ camp, Obiorah said they met four other hostages who had already spent over three weeks in detention — including a university staff member, a youth corps member, a pastor, and a Hausa man. The victims were housed in huts, fed once daily with poorly prepared meals, and forced to drink muddy water.

“We were beaten every hour, forced to call our families and beg for ransom. The leader of the gang, known as Matthew, operated like a former soldier.

The area was familiar with them; even children were desensitized to gun violence,” Obiorah revealed.

Initially, the kidnappers demanded N10 million per person, later adding an extra N200,000 for what they called “transportation.”

On Thursday night, after receiving payment, the students were blindfolded, driven on motorcycles through thick bush paths, and dropped at a location where they trekked for over four hours before finding a road.

Obiorah expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s worsening security situation. “The government didn’t rescue us. Our families paid the ransom. We were not rescued by the police as claimed. We only wanted to return to school quietly,” he said.

The police reportedly arrived only after the freed students sought transport from a park manager, who then alerted authorities. “They came and claimed they rescued us. That’s false,” Obiorah added.

Despite losing personal belongings and important documents, Obiorah remains determined to continue his studies. “It’s painful, but I thank God for life. I’m undergoing treatment and trying to move forward.”

He expressed no confidence in the government’s handling of security. “I have nothing to say to the federal government. Let them continue playing politics with people’s lives,” he said.

The incident has sparked renewed calls for the federal government to improve security along Nigeria’s highways, particularly in the Middle Belt region where kidnappings have surged in recent months.