“We Thought We’d Die” – Law Student Shares Shocking Kidnap Story After 6 Days in Benue Forest

It was meant to be a regular journey to law school, but for six students headed to the Nigerian Law School in Yola, Adamawa State, on July 26, 2025, it turned into a nightmare.

David Obiorah, one of the victims, shared his chilling ordeal in an exclusive interview, revealing how he and five other law students were abducted along the Wukari-Zaki-Biam expressway in Benue State, and how their freedom came not from police intervention, but from the ransom their families paid.

Ambushed Between Checkpoints

The group was travelling from Onitsha, Anambra State, when their vehicle was intercepted around 9 p.m. near Jootar, between police and army checkpoints.

“We thought we were safe, being between checkpoints. But the kidnappers had other plans,” David recalled.

He said about 10 armed men, mostly speaking Tiv, blocked the road and took everyone in the bus — 13 people in total, including six law students, two men, two women, three children, and the driver — deep into the forest.

Life in Captivity: Hunger, Beatings, and Fear

The kidnappers were brutal. Victims were beaten hourly and fed once a day with poor food and muddy water. The leader of the gang, known as Matthew, is believed to be a dismissed or runaway soldier. The hideout was a bush settlement with huts and locals who appeared aware and complicit, according to David.

“There were children as young as 2 years watching them cock AK-47s like it was normal,” he said, adding that even community members cooked for the captives.

The group met four others who had already been held for over 3 weeks, including a university staff member, a youth corps member, and a pastor recovering from surgery.

N10 Million Ransom and a Rainy Escape

The kidnappers demanded ₦10 million, and later an extra ₦200,000 for what they called "transport." Under pressure and fearing for their lives, families scrambled to raise the money.

After receiving the ransom, the kidnappers blindfolded them and dropped them in a forest during heavy rainfall. They trekked for over 4 hours until they found a streetlight and finally reached safety.

“Police Did Nothing” – Victim Speaks Out

David is clear: “The police didn’t rescue us. We paid, and they let us go. The police only showed up after we were freed and tried to claim credit.”

The victims avoided the authorities entirely after the release, heading straight to the park to find transport back to Yola. It was the park manager who informed the police.