NBA Demands Release of Abducted Lawyer in Niger State

The Nigerian Bar Association has expressed outrage over the growing wave of kidnappings across the country following the abduction of one of its members, Isyaku Muhammed Danjuma, in Niger State.

The association’s president, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, made the statement on Friday night, describing the incident as a painful reminder of Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Danjuma, a member of the NBA Birnin Kebbi branch, was kidnapped in the early hours of October 1 around Ibeto town in Magama Local Government Area. His abduction, which happened during Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary celebrations, came amid a series of violent attacks in the region.

The NBA said the kidnapping was not just a personal tragedy but a reflection of how insecurity has eroded the rights and dignity of citizens. It noted that no Nigerian—lawyer, trader, student, or farmer—is safe, whether on the road, at home, or at work. The association said Danjuma’s abduction represents a direct assault on the rule of law and a violation of the constitutional rights to life and liberty.

Calling for immediate action, the NBA demanded the unconditional release of Danjuma and urged both the Federal and Niger State governments to launch an urgent and coordinated rescue operation. It also pressed security agencies to identify, arrest, and prosecute the kidnappers without delay.

The body warned that the recurring cases of abduction showed that Nigeria’s security system had failed to protect its citizens. It said if lawyers sworn to uphold justice could be seized on the highway, then the lives of ordinary citizens were even more at risk.

The NBA vowed to keep close watch on the case and to continue pressing the government to take stronger steps to protect lives and property. It insisted that a democracy cannot thrive when citizens live in constant fear of abduction and violence.

The association also extended solidarity to Danjuma’s family, the Birnin Kebbi branch, and the wider legal community, praying for his safe return.

Witnesses said heavily armed gunmen invaded Ibeto town in large numbers, targeting prominent residents. A family source told reporters that the attackers operated for hours without intervention from security forces. Reports later confirmed that Danjuma had posted about the terrorists’ presence on his Facebook page shortly before being taken away into the bush.