The family of Peace Onyesom, a lawyer recently called to the bar, and her sister, Gift Onyesom, have raised alarm after the sisters were abducted along the Okene–Auchi road on Friday, with their captors demanding ₦40 million for their release.
Peace had just participated in the September 23 Call to Bar ceremony of the Nigerian Law School and was returning to Benin with her sister when they were kidnapped.
Speaking on behalf of the family, their sibling, Adaeze Onyesom, said the abductors initially demanded ₦100 million but later reduced it to ₦20 million each, rejecting the family’s plea to accept ₦7 million.
“They allowed us to speak with our sisters this morning. They were crying and begging us to raise the money,” Adaeze said, adding that the family had been forced to begin selling property to raise funds.
While the police had earlier claimed that eight out of 12 kidnapped passengers were rescued, Adaeze insisted that the bus manifest showed only eight passengers in total, and none had been freed.
Confirming the incident, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said efforts were ongoing to secure the release of those still in captivity.
The Nigerian Bar Association, in a statement by its President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), described the abduction as “unacceptable and utterly condemnable,” urging the Federal Government and security agencies to act swiftly.
“It is heartbreaking that at a time when our nation should be celebrating the future of the legal profession, young lawyers and their families are subjected to such harrowing ordeals,” the NBA said, demanding urgent action to improve highway security.
Kidnappings have become frequent along the Abuja, Kogi, and Benin highways.
In February, a corps member traveling along the Benin–Ore Expressway was freed after her family reportedly paid ₦1 million, while three passengers were abducted earlier this month along the Okene–Lokoja route.