Amid widespread outrage over the abduction of six Nigerian Law School students, key voices in the legal profession have called for calm, urging Nigerians to avoid turning the tragedy into an indictment of the institution or its multi-campus structure.
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The students Rev. Ernest Okafor, Ogbuka Fabian, Nwamma Philip, Okechukwu Obadiegwu, Obalem Emmanuel, and Obiorah David were kidnapped on Saturday, July 26, while travelling from Onitsha, Anambra State, to the Yola campus in Adamawa State. The incident occurred along the volatile Wukari-Benue axis, notorious for criminal activity. They were reportedly returning after completing their mandatory court externship.
Confirming the development, Adamawa State Police spokesperson, SP Yahaya Suleiman, clarified that the incident occurred outside Adamawa’s jurisdiction, and that the Command is collaborating with the Benue State Police and other security agencies. The kidnappers are said to be demanding ₦20 million per victim in ransom.
The abduction has reignited fierce debate over the operations of the Nigerian Law School, particularly the wisdom behind the multiple campus model and the policy of posting students to distant or high-risk regions.
“Can’t the Council of Legal Education assign students to campuses closer to home?” one practitioner asked. “What’s the essence of having multiple campuses if they are not being used to reduce exposure to danger?”
Another legal commentator questioned why the Law School cannot adopt a more security-conscious policy, citing NYSC’s past decision to suspend postings to Borno State due to insecurity. Others decried what they described as the elitist structuring of certain campuses, particularly the Abuja campus, which they allege is reserved for the children of the wealthy and politically connected.
However, not all the reactions were critical. A respected law school lecturer, who requested anonymity, advised Nigerians to take a broader view of the incident.
“Thousands have been kidnapped across Nigeria from homes, highways, schools, even military facilities. This is not the fault of the Nigerian Law School or its campuses,” he said.
He listed examples including the abduction of a judge in Yenagoa, a former NBA President in Rivers State, and security breaches at the Nigerian Defence Academy. He added that youth corps members, federal workers, and other public servants are often posted across states regardless of security concerns.
“This tragedy is not unique to the Law School. It is part of a wider national security collapse. Let’s pray for the students and their families, but let’s not lose sight of the bigger issue insecurity across Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, lectures have commenced at the Yola campus, even as the fate of the six abducted students remains uncertain.
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