The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called for the immediate release of Onyesom Peace Udoka, a young lawyer who was abducted along with her sister by gunmen in Kogi State on Saturday. Udoka, who was only recently called to the bar, was reportedly on her way from Abuja to Benin City when the incident occurred on the Lokoja–Okene highway.
The association expressed alarm over the growing insecurity along major highways, warning that the situation is fast eroding public confidence in the government’s ability to protect its citizens. Udoka, currently a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps in Kogi State, was one of hundreds of new lawyers formally inducted into the legal profession just days before the attack.
The NBA described the abduction as a tragic development that casts a shadow over what should have been a celebratory moment for Udoka’s family and the wider legal community. The association’s leadership emphasised that the safety of Nigerian citizens must be treated as a matter of urgency, particularly given the increasing number of violent incidents targeting travellers across the country.
Rising Insecurity on Major Highways
The Lokoja–Okene axis has in recent years gained notoriety as a flashpoint for abductions, armed robberies, and other forms of violent crime. Its strategic position linking the Federal Capital Territory with the southwestern states has made it a major route for commuters, traders, and commercial drivers — and, increasingly, a hunting ground for kidnappers.
Saturday’s incident comes barely weeks after gunmen attacked an 18-seater bus along the same route, killing one passenger and abducting three others. Security analysts say that criminal gangs operating along this corridor often target vehicles in transit, block roads, and abduct passengers in groups before demanding ransoms.
The NBA has now joined other civil society organisations and security experts in calling for a coordinated response that combines intelligence gathering, rapid response units, and community vigilance. Legal observers argue that failure to act decisively could result in an even greater spike in attacks, with devastating effects on commerce, interstate travel, and public morale.
NBA’s Call for Government Action
In its statement, the NBA urged security agencies to intensify operations along highways notorious for such attacks and prioritise the rescue of abducted victims. The association noted that kidnappings not only inflict psychological trauma on victims and their families but also represent a broader threat to national stability and the rule of law.
The call for action is particularly significant given Udoka’s status as a young lawyer just beginning her career. Her abduction has resonated deeply within the legal community, with colleagues and friends taking to social media to demand swift intervention.
Analysts say the incident has once again brought into focus the wider implications of insecurity for Nigeria’s future. The targeting of young professionals could discourage others from returning home after studies or participating in national service programmes, further weakening confidence in government institutions.
As the search for Udoka and her sister continues, pressure is mounting on security agencies to deliver a breakthrough. The NBA has vowed to sustain advocacy efforts until the victims are freed and meaningful steps are taken to secure major transport corridors.
With the 2025 legal year in full swing, the abduction of a newly inducted lawyer has added urgency to calls for comprehensive security reforms. For many observers, the case has become a litmus test of whether authorities can reassure Nigerians that the roads are safe, and that criminal elements will no longer operate with impunity.
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