Two passengers, including a newlywed woman and a trader, who were abducted alongside six Nigerian Law School students along the Benue-Taraba border, are still being held by their captors, days after others secured their release.
The victims – identified as Mmesoma, a recent bride from Umunya, and Chimezie, a trader from Umudioka, both in Anambra State – were among 11 people, including the driver, travelling from Anambra State to Yola, Adamawa State, and onward to Cameroon, when gunmen ambushed their vehicle.
Six law school students and four other passengers were released after reportedly paying a ransom of ₦10 million each. But the two remaining victims have yet to regain their freedom.
One of the released students, David Obiorah, confirmed the development on Tuesday, raising concern over the continued captivity of the duo.
“The girl just got married this January,” Obiorah said. “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 also revealed that the kidnappers had refused to return his SIM card even after his ransom was paid.
In a statement released last Friday, the Benue State Police Command through its spokesperson, SP Udeme Edet, claimed that the abducted students had been “rescued” by security operatives. However, Obiorah disputed the police narrative, insisting the victims were released only after ransoms were paid.
“The police claimed they rescued us, but a male and a female are still in the hands of the kidnappers,” he said. “Is the Nigeria Police selective in rescuing Nigerians? Will you rescue a few and abandon others?”
According to him, all hostages were held together in a hut and were released simultaneously, except Mmesoma and Chimezie. He expressed dismay that the two were left behind despite enduring the same ordeal as others.
“Mmesoma said she was a student of Anambra State University and got married in January. She was travelling to reunite with her husband in Cameroon,” Obiorah recounted. “Chimezie told us he is a trader, also heading to Cameroon.”
As of the time of filing this report, efforts by the victims’ families to secure their release reportedly continue, while public appeals mount for urgent government intervention.
