Nigerian Bar Association Demands Swift Action Over Abduction of Lawyer Onyesom Peace Udoka in Kogi State

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has raised alarm and called on the federal government and security agencies to move with immediate urgency to secure the release of one of its members, Onyesom Peace Udoka, who was abducted alongside her sister and several other passengers along the Lokoja–Okene highway in Kogi State. The disturbing incident, which has thrown the legal community and the wider Nigerian society into shock and fear, comes amid renewed concerns about the increasing wave of kidnappings on highways across the country.

According to reports, Udoka, a young lawyer known for her dedication to the legal profession, was traveling with her sister when their vehicle was intercepted by armed men suspected to be kidnappers along the notorious Lokoja–Okene expressway, a route that has become a nightmare for many travelers. The assailants reportedly blocked the highway, forced their victims out of their vehicle, and whisked them away into the forest, leaving other road users terrified and stranded. Witnesses at the scene recounted the traumatic experience, with some barely managing to escape after the gunmen shot sporadically to disperse motorists.

The NBA, in a strongly worded statement issued late Saturday night, described the abduction as a brazen act of criminality that not only endangers the life of its member but also threatens the safety and security of all Nigerians who have no choice but to travel on the country’s highways. The association emphasized that the abduction of lawyers, doctors, students, and other professionals by armed gangs is becoming an alarming trend, one that risks undermining the rule of law and public confidence in the state’s capacity to guarantee safety. The NBA therefore called on the Inspector General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Chief of Defence Staff, and the relevant security formations in Kogi State to deploy all necessary intelligence and tactical resources to track down the abductors and ensure the safe release of Udoka and others.

NBA President, Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, condemned the incident in strong terms, stressing that the legal community would not rest until one of its own is freed. He described Udoka as a promising lawyer who has shown remarkable dedication to justice and human rights, noting that her abduction is both a personal tragedy and a collective injury to the Nigerian bar. Maikyau further warned that the government’s failure to decisively confront kidnappers and bandits is gradually normalizing a culture of fear and impunity that threatens Nigeria’s social fabric. “No lawyer should have to practice under the shadow of fear, no citizen should travel across their own country in dread of abduction, and no family should be left in anguish because the state cannot guarantee safety on its highways,” he said.

The Lokoja–Okene highway, a vital link between Abuja, the North, and the South, has long been identified as a flashpoint for kidnappings, armed robberies, and violent attacks. Travelers often narrate harrowing tales of gunmen emerging from the surrounding forests to block roads, seize vehicles, and abduct passengers for ransom. Despite frequent security patrols and checkpoints, incidents of abductions continue to be recorded almost weekly, sparking fears that criminal gangs have become emboldened by the perceived inefficiency of state security forces. Just weeks ago, reports emerged of several students and traders being abducted along the same route, with families left to negotiate ransoms in the face of government inaction.

Reactions have poured in from across the country as news of Udoka’s abduction spreads. Colleagues, classmates, and friends of the young lawyer have taken to social media to express their shock and anger, urging security agencies to act swiftly. Hashtags demanding her release have already begun trending on X (formerly Twitter), with many Nigerians lamenting the deteriorating state of security across the nation. Several civil society organizations have also joined their voices to the call, urging the government to treat the case as a matter of national emergency and a test of its commitment to the safety of citizens.

In Kogi State, residents say fear has gripped many communities along the highway, with travelers now resorting to prayers and extreme caution before embarking on journeys. Commercial drivers, who form the bulk of traffic along the road, have repeatedly complained that their lives are constantly at risk, yet no sustainable measures have been taken to secure them. Some drivers are reportedly considering boycotting the route altogether, a decision that could have serious economic implications given the road’s strategic role in connecting key commercial centers in Nigeria.

For Udoka’s family, the past hours have been agonizing. Her relatives are said to be in contact with colleagues from the NBA, with efforts already underway to coordinate with security agencies. While it is unclear if the kidnappers have reached out with ransom demands, many Nigerians fear that the pattern of previous abductions will repeat itself, where families are left to negotiate the release of their loved ones with little to no assistance from authorities.

The NBA’s call for urgent action comes at a time when public trust in Nigeria’s security architecture is at an all-time low. Citizens continue to question the effectiveness of billions spent annually on security budgets, with little to show in terms of reduced crime rates. Analysts warn that unless the government demonstrates a willingness to confront the menace of kidnapping head-on, Nigeria risks sliding further into a state where bandits, not the state, dictate the terms of life and movement across vast swathes of the country.

Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on the federal government to respond decisively. Nigerians are demanding not just the rescue of Udoka and her sister but also a long-term solution that will end the reign of terror on highways. Several prominent voices in the legal profession have already hinted at the possibility of protests, boycotts of court sittings, and other forms of civil disobedience if the government fails to act.

As the hours tick by, the fate of Onyesom Peace Udoka and the other abducted victims remains uncertain. Their abduction is not just another statistic in Nigeria’s growing insecurity crisis; it is a chilling reminder that no one, regardless of profession or status, is safe from the menace of kidnapping. The NBA has made its demand clear: immediate action must be taken, and the safety of its member restored without delay. The question that remains is whether the government will rise to the occasion or once again allow citizens to lose faith in the state’s capacity to protect them.

For now, all eyes are on the federal government, the Kogi State authorities, and the nation’s security chiefs. Nigerians wait anxiously, hoping that the story of Udoka and her sister will not end in tragedy but rather serve as a turning point in the country’s long and painful battle against kidnapping. Until then, the nation holds its breath, praying for the safe return of the abducted lawyer and others, and demanding that justice must prevail over fear.