The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has issued a strong appeal to the federal government and security agencies to act swiftly in securing the release of Onyesom Peace Udoka, a newly called lawyer who was abducted alongside her sister and several others along the Lokoja–Okene highway in Kogi State.
Udoka, a graduate of Ambrose Alli University and the Nigerian Law School’s Enugu campus, had just celebrated her Call to Bar on September 24, 2025. She was traveling from Abuja to Benin City when gunmen intercepted her vehicle on September 27, only days after her formal induction into the legal profession.
The NBA, led by President Afam Osigwe, SAN, described the incident as “unacceptable and utterly condemnable,” emphasizing that no citizen—especially young professionals—should be subjected to such trauma while traveling on public roads. The association revealed that the kidnappers are demanding a ransom of ₦20 million for Udoka and her sister’s release.
This latest abduction highlights the growing insecurity along Nigeria’s highways, particularly the Lokoja–Okene axis, which has become notorious for violent attacks and kidnappings. The NBA has called for intensified and sustained efforts to secure the nation’s roads and restore public confidence in the government’s ability to protect lives and property.
In solidarity with Udoka’s family, the NBA pledged full support and urged authorities to treat the matter with the urgency it deserves. The legal community and concerned citizens across the country continue to pray for the safe and speedy return of all abducted victims.
