Newlywed Woman, Trader Still in Captivity After Law School Students’ Release – Freed Victim
Two passengers— a newlywed woman and a trader—who were abducted alongside six Nigerian Law School students along the Benue-Taraba border, remain in captivity.
The victims were among 11 people, including the driver, who boarded a bus from Anambra State en route to Yola, Adamawa State, and ultimately Cameroon, before being intercepted by gunmen.
While the six law school students and three other passengers regained freedom after allegedly paying a ransom of ₦10 million each, two victims—identified as Mmesoma, a newlywed from Umunya, and Chimezie, a trader from Umudioka—are still being held.
Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, one of the freed students, David Obiorah, confirmed the development and appealed for urgent intervention.
“Mmesoma just got married in January. She was going to meet her husband in Cameroon. Chimezie is also a trader from Anambra headed to Cameroon,” Obiorah said. “We are pleading with the public and the government not to abandon them. They deserve to be rescued too.”
Obiorah also alleged that the kidnappers still have possession of his SIM card and refused to return it even after the ransom was paid.
Last Friday, the Benue State Police Command, through its spokesperson, SP Sewuese Anene, announced that the abducted students had been “rescued” by security operatives. But Obiorah challenged the claim.
He said, “The police said we were rescued, but the truth is we were only released after ransom payments. And sadly, two people—Mmesoma and Chimezie—were left behind. Are we now rescuing some Nigerians and abandoning others?”
Obiorah recounted that all hostages were kept in a hut and released at once—except the two who remain in captivity.
“Mmesoma told us she was a student of Anambra State University and had just married. Chimezie said he was a trader. We were all held together but only the rest of us were released,” he added.
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The incident draws parallels with a 2023 case in Ilorin, Kwara State, where Rukayat Musa, a newlywed, and her two sisters-in-law were abducted and later freed after a ₦7 million ransom was paid.
