Activist lawyer Deji Adeyanju and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) have condemned the abduction of a new lawyer, Onyesom Udoka and her sister while returning home from her Call to Bar ceremony.
Miss Udoka, who was among those called to the Nigerian Bar last week in Abuja, was kidnapped with her sister along the Lokoja–Okene road in Kogi State on Friday.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, Mr Adeyanju described the incident as disturbing and urged security agencies to act swiftly.
He wrote, “I call on the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, and other responsible agencies to act without delay to secure the release of Onyesom Peace Udoka and her sister from their abductors. I remain hopeful for their safety and safe return to their family.”
Also, in a statement on Sunday, the NBA demanded the immediate release of the victims and called on the government to prioritise citizens’ security.
The statement signed by NBA president, Afam Osigwe, read in part, “The Nigerian Bar Association has received with shock and concern the reports of the abduction of one of our young colleagues, Onyesom Peace Udoka, a newly called lawyer, alongside her sister, around the Lokoja–Okene axis in Kogi State while returning from the recent Call to Bar Ceremony in Abuja.
“The NBA strongly calls on the Federal Government and all relevant security agencies, particularly the police, to act with urgency and ensure the immediate and safe release of our colleague and all others in captivity. The safety and security of Nigerians cannot continue to be treated with levity.”
Udoka was among the thousands of lawyers formally admitted into the legal profession at the Call to Bar ceremony held in Abuja between Tuesday and Thursday.
