NBA Sounds Alarm: Lawyer Abducted In Kogi, Immediate Rescue Demanded

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has urged the Federal Government and security agencies to take immediate action to secure the release of Onyesom Udoka, one of its newest members, who was abducted on the Lokoja-Okene highway in Kogi State. Udoka, a graduate of Ambrose Alli University and the Nigerian Law School, Enugu Campus, was reportedly kidnapped along with her sister and other passengers while returning from her Call to Bar ceremony in Abuja last week.

In a statement issued on Sunday, NBA President Afam Osigwe (SAN) condemned the abduction as “unacceptable and utterly condemnable,” emphasizing that no family should endure such trauma, particularly during a period intended for celebration. He noted the heartbreaking irony of young lawyers and their families facing danger at a moment meant to honor their entry into the legal profession.

The association called for a coordinated and urgent response from security agencies and the federal government to ensure the safe release of Udoka and other victims. The NBA also stressed the need for a comprehensive national strategy to address growing insecurity on Nigerian highways, which has escalated in recent months. “The safety and security of Nigerians cannot be treated lightly. Protecting citizens is the primary duty of government, and it must be carried out with utmost seriousness,” the statement read.

The NBA pledged its solidarity with Udoka’s family and vowed to support broader initiatives aimed at safeguarding citizens from similar ordeals. The incident was first reported on social media by Blue Lawyer, who revealed that the kidnappers had demanded a ₦20 million ransom for Udoka and her sister.

The September 2025 Call to Bar ceremonies, held between September 23 and 25, preceded the abduction, with the victims traveling back to Benin, Edo State, when the attackers intercepted them. The Kogi State Police Command confirmed that a commuter bus operated by Big Joe Ventures Ltd was attacked on Friday along the same highway. Gunmen abducted all 12 passengers, but a joint operation by police, military, and local vigilantes successfully rescued eight individuals, including the driver. Efforts are ongoing to free the remaining four victims and apprehend the perpetrators, according to Police Public Relations Officer SP William Aya.