The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju have condemned the abduction of Onyesom Peace Udoka, a newly called lawyer, and her sister along the Lokoja–Okene road in Kogi State.
Miss Udoka, who was among those called to the Nigerian Bar in Abuja last week, was reportedly kidnapped with her sister on Friday while returning home from the ceremony.
Reacting to the incident, Adeyanju described the abduction as “disturbing” and urged security agencies to act swiftly. In a Facebook post on Saturday, 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.”
The NBA also issued a statement on Sunday through its president, Afam Osigwe (SAN), demanding urgent action from the government and security operatives.
The statement 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, 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 association emphasized that the safety of Nigerians must not continue to be treated with levity, warning that incidents like this further expose the country’s security challenges.
Udoka was among the thousands of lawyers officially admitted into the legal profession at the Call to Bar ceremony held in Abuja between Tuesday and Thursday.
