The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the safe rescue of six abducted law students of the Nigerian Law School, Yola Campus, nearly a week after they were kidnapped while travelling from Anambra State to Adamawa State. The students, who were abducted on Saturday, July 26, 2025, were freed in the early hours of Friday, August 1, 2025, following an intense rescue operation.
The incident, which occurred along the notorious Wukari-Taraba-Benue route, sparked nationwide outrage as concerns over student safety on interstate highways intensified. The victims, all law graduates returning to campus after their externship break, were reportedly ambushed by armed assailants who took them into a nearby forest.
Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Edet Udeme, confirmed in a statement that the students were successfully rescued without harm and have since been reunited with their families. “Our operatives, in collaboration with sister security agencies, acted on credible intelligence to secure the safe release of the students. We remain resolute in our mission to rid our highways of criminal elements,” she said.
Sources within the security network revealed that the operation to free the students involved coordinated surveillance and strategic patrols across identified blackspots. While the police did not confirm whether any ransom was paid, security officials hinted that ongoing investigations are aimed at apprehending the gang responsible for the abduction.
The abduction has renewed calls for tighter security measures on major highways, particularly the Taraba-Benue corridor, which has witnessed a surge in kidnapping incidents in recent months. Concerned parents and civil society groups have urged the federal government to step up its fight against organized crime targeting students and commuters.
Meanwhile, the management of the Nigerian Law School, Yola Campus, has expressed gratitude to the security agencies for their swift intervention. In a statement, the campus director assured students and parents that additional safety measures are being put in place to prevent a recurrence of such traumatic incidents.
The rescue operation has been hailed as a success by both local authorities and advocacy groups, who praised the bravery of the security personnel involved. However, stakeholders stress that proactive measures, rather than reactive operations, are necessary to ensure that students and citizens can travel without fear across the country’s highways.
