Two passengers, including a newlywed bride and a trader, who were travelling in the same bus with the six abducted Nigerian Law school students, are still in captivity, it was learnt on Tuesday.

The victims were among 11 passengers—including the driver—who left Anambra State en route to Yola, Adamawa State, and Cameroon when gunmen abducted them along the Benue-Taraba border.

While the six Nigerian law school students and four other passengers were freed after reportedly paying a ransom of N10m each, the two remaining victims – a newlywed woman identified as Mmesoma from Umunya and a trader known only as Chimezie from Umudioka – are still being held by the kidnappers.

In an interview with PUNCH Metro on Tuesday, David Obiorah, one of the freed law school students, confirmed that the two victims were still in captivity.

Obiorah said, “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 also alleged that the kidnappers still had possession of his mobile phone SIM card, which they refused to return even after the ransom was paid.

The Benue State Police Command, in a statement released on Friday by its spokesperson, Udeme Edet, announced that the abducted students had been “rescued” by security operatives.

However, Obiorah contested the claim, insisting that the students were released only after the ransom was paid, and questioned why two passengers were left behind.

He said, “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?

“The names of those still being held are Chimezie from Umudioka and Mmesom from Umunya. They were with us in the same bus when we were abducted.”

Recounting their ordeal, Obiorah said all hostages who were kept together in a hut were released at the same time, except the two still being held.

He explained, “Everyone who was kept in the hut with us was freed—except Mmesom and Chimezie. Mmesom said she was a student of Anambra State University and that she got married in January.

“She was travelling to reunite with her husband in Cameroon. Chimezie told us he is a trader, also on his way to Cameroon.”

This incident mirrors a similar case in 2023, when Rukayat Musa, a newlywed wife, and her two sisters-in-law were abducted from their residence along Emir’s Road, Ilorin, Kwara State.

They were eventually released after the family paid N7m in ransom. (The PUNCH)