Kidnappers Hold Newlywed Bride, Trader After Law School Students’ Release
Two passengers who were abducted alongside six Nigerian Law School students have yet to regain their freedom, even after the other hostages were released.
The remaining captives, identified as Mmesoma, a newlywed from Umunya, and Chimezie, a trader from Umudioka—both in Anambra State—were among 11 people, including the driver, who boarded a commercial vehicle from Anambra en route to Yola, Adamawa State, and Cameroon.
They were abducted by gunmen along the Benue-Taraba border.
While the law school students and four other passengers were reportedly released after paying ₦10 million each as ransom, Mmesoma and Chimezie are still in captivity.
One of the freed law students, David Obiorah, confirmed their continued captivity in an interview on Tuesday. He expressed concern over their fate, stating, “The girl just got married this January. She was travelling to meet her husband in Cameroon. Chimezie is a trader from Anambra, also heading to Cameroon. We’re appealing to the public and the government not to abandon them. They also deserve to be rescued.”
Obiorah further alleged that the kidnappers still possess his SIM card, which they refused to return even after his ransom was paid.
The Benue State Police Command had earlier claimed, in a statement released on Friday by spokesperson SP Udeme Edet, that the kidnapped students were “rescued” by security personnel.
However, Obiorah contested this claim, insisting that all released hostages had to pay ransom.
He asked, “The police claimed they rescued us, but a male and a female are still in the hands of the kidnappers. Is the Nigeria Police selective in rescuing Nigerians? Will you rescue a few and abandon others?”
Obiorah emphasized that all victims were held together in the same hut, and only Mmesoma and Chimezie were left behind. He said, “Mmesoma told us she is a student of Anambra State University and had just gotten married in January. She was on her way to reunite with her husband in Cameroon. Chimezie said he is a trader, also heading to Cameroon.”
The incident bears resemblance to a 2023 case in Ilorin, Kwara State, where a newlywed, Rukayat Musa, and her sisters-in-law were abducted from their home. They were later freed after paying a ₦7 million ransom.
