After six frightening days in captivity, six law students who were kidnapped along the Wukari-Zaki-Biam expressway in Benue State finally regained their freedom. One of the victims, David Obiorah, shared what happened during their time with the kidnappers.

On July 26, 2025, David and five other law students were on their way from Onitsha in Anambra State to the Nigerian Law School in Yola, Adamawa State. Their journey was interrupted when gunmen attacked their bus at around 9 p.m., between army and police checkpoints. The attackers, believed to be from the Tiv ethnic group, blocked the road and forced the bus into the bush, far away from the main road.

There were 13 people in the bus, including the driver, law students, other adult passengers, and children. The kidnappers—ten in total—carried AK-47 rifles, cutlasses, and daggers. When the bus got stuck, they called for backup and brought motorcycles to move the victims deeper into the forest. Eventually, the kidnappers split them up and led some to a hut hidden in the bush.

Inside the hut, they met other captives who had already spent over three weeks in the same condition. These included a university worker, a corps member, a pastor recovering from surgery, and another man. The next day, the kidnappers released some of the victims, including a law student, a few teenagers, and a woman with her child.

David described the group’s leader as a man named Matthew, possibly a dismissed or runaway soldier. He also said the kidnappers were mostly Tiv, with a few quiet Fulani men among them. He noticed that the nearby community seemed fully aware of the kidnappers’ activities but did not speak out. Even small children witnessed them testing guns in broad daylight. Women from the community were responsible for cooking for the kidnappers and the hostages.

Life in captivity was tough. The victims were fed once a day with unhealthy meals. They drank muddy water that wasn’t even clean enough to wash a car, causing health issues for some. Beatings were constant, and the kidnappers forced them to call relatives to beg for ransom. According to David, the kidnappers repeatedly told them, “Pay your N10 million and you’ll be free.”

At one point, after demanding N10 million, the kidnappers asked David for an additional N200,000, giving him just five minutes to pay or risk being left behind. He contacted his brother to raise the funds, and eventually, the ransom was paid.

On the night of their release, the kidnappers blindfolded the victims and led them through the forest under heavy rainfall. After hours of walking, they saw a streetlight that led them out of the bush. Despite being free, David feared running into other dangers on the isolated path.

He’s now focused on recovery, though he’s still dealing with the loss of valuable documents and items. He’s resumed his studies but remains concerned about replacing his lost documents.

David said he has nothing to say to the federal government, accusing them of playing politics with security issues. He also dismissed police claims that they were rescued, saying their families paid the ransom and the police only appeared after their release, taking credit they didn’t deserve.

His story highlights the deep security challenges ordinary Nigerians face and the lack of real government support for victims of violent crimes.