Lawyer, Sister, Others Returning from Call to Bar Ceremony Kidnapped in Kogi

Friends and colleagues of a young Nigerian lawyer, Onyesom Peace Udoka, have taken to social media to raise alarm after she was reportedly kidnapped alongside her sister while travelling back to Benin from Abuja.

Udoka had just participated in the Call to Bar ceremony held in Abuja on Tuesday, September 23, before embarking on her journey home. According to activist Harrison Gwamnishu, the abduction took place around Okene, Kogi State, a route notorious for kidnapping incidents.

He expressed concern over the rising insecurity along highways linking Abuja, Kogi, and Edo, stating that many travellers are left at the mercy of armed kidnappers. “It is only by the mercy of God that anyone arrives safely when travelling by road from Abuja through Kogi State to Edo State,” he wrote.

The development has sparked outrage and calls for urgent government intervention, as colleagues and friends continue to plead for prayers and assistance in securing Udoka’s safe release. Security agencies are yet to issue an official statement on the incident.