The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has expressed outrage following the abduction of a newly called lawyer, Onyesom Peace Udoka, and her sister along the Lokoja–Okene highway in Kogi State while returning from the recent Call to Bar ceremony in Abuja.
In a statement issued on Sunday, NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, described the incident as “unacceptable and utterly condemnable,” stressing that no young lawyer or citizen should be subjected to such trauma on Nigerian roads.
The association said the development was particularly heartbreaking as it came at a time when the nation was celebrating the future of the legal profession.
“It is distressing that young lawyers and their families are being forced into harrowing ordeals instead of celebrating their achievements. No family should endure this kind of trauma, and no citizen should live under constant fear of insecurity on our highways,” the statement read.
The NBA called on the Federal Government and security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police Force, to act swiftly to secure Udoka’s release alongside all other abducted persons. It emphasized that the protection of lives remains the government’s primary responsibility.
The body also demanded sustained action to make Nigeria’s highways safe, urging authorities to restore public confidence in the government’s ability to guarantee security.
While standing in solidarity with the families of the victims, the NBA prayed for the safe return of the abducted sisters.
“The Nigerian Bar Association demands immediate action. Government must rise to the occasion and secure the release of our colleague, Onyesom Peace Udoka, and all others in captivity,” the statement added.
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