We Paid Kidnappers Ransom To Secure Our Release – Victim

David Obiorah, one of the six Nigerian Law School students kidnapped on July 26, 2025, has shared his horrific ordeal. He and his colleagues were flogged daily with tree stems, fed only once a day, and forced to drink muddy water during their captivity in a forest along the Zakibiam-Wukari area . A source close to Aiyekooto Reporters revealed.

According to the source, the captives denied Police position that they were rescue but give narrative of their payment of ransoms before their release was secured. Giving verbatim details, the source said that …

• The Abduction: They were taken around 9 pm, and their bus was driven deep into the forest. Obiorah thought they were going to be killed, but the kidnappers assured them they wouldn’t be harmed.
• The Captivity: They were kept in a small hut, beaten daily, and fed rice made with palm oil once a day. The kidnappers spoke mostly in Tiv, and their leader, “Matthew,” looked like a military officer.
• The Ransom: Contrary to the police’s claim of rescue, Obiorah says they paid N10 million each for their release. One student was released earlier without a ransom due to his youthful appearance.
• The Environment: The kidnappers operated in a remote village where women cooked for them, and children and elders moved around freely. The villagers seemed aware of what was happening.

The police had initially claimed to have rescued the students, but Obiorah’s account reveals the truth about their ordeal to Punch Metro. This incident highlights the growing concern about kidnappings in northern Nigeria.