Kidnappers Were Not Fulani, They Spoke Pidgin and Bore Names Like Felix, Says Law School Student

A Nigerian Law School student from the Adamawa campus, David Obiora, has shared his harrowing experience after being abducted along the Zaki Biam–Wukari Expressway on Saturday, July 26, 2025.

The attack occurred at about 9 p.m. when armed men intercepted travelers and forced them into the bush.

Obiora’s account was published by Punch Newspapers on Sunday, August 24, 2025. He disclosed that contrary to common assumptions, the kidnappers were not Fulani, stressing that they spoke Nigerian Pidgin throughout the ordeal.

According to him, the abductors introduced themselves with names such as Mathew, Felix, and David. Investigations later revealed that ransom money was traced to a commercial bank account belonging to one of them, identified as Felix.

This revelation has raised fresh concerns about the financial channels aiding criminal gangs and the ease with which they operate.

Security experts note that Obiora’s experience broadens the conversation on insecurity, especially as most abductions in the region are often attributed to Fulani herders or bandits. They argue that the case highlights the increasingly diverse makeup of kidnapping syndicates, complicating profiling and making the fight against abductions more difficult.

Sharing his story, Obiora said:
“I was listening to their language, and I knew because I’m very sure they were not Fulani. They were even speaking Nigerian Pidgin. Some of them bore the names Mathew, Felix, and David. It was the bank account of the one bearing Felix that was used in receiving the ransom.”