(DDM) – The Nigerian legal community and wider society have been thrown into shock following the abduction of a newly qualified lawyer, Onyesom Peace Udoka, shortly after participating in her Call to the Bar ceremony.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the incident occurred on Friday, September 27, 2025, while Udoka was returning home from Abuja, where she had joined other law graduates to be formally admitted into the legal profession just days earlier on September 23.
According to information released by family sources, the young lawyer was traveling from Abuja en route to Benin when she reportedly went missing around the Lokoja axis of Kogi State.
Her last known contact was around 12 p.m. on Friday, before communication lines suddenly went dead.
The family disclosed that her phone number, 08135538123, has since been unreachable. It was also reported that the last call she made was placed through the number 08058525334.
The circumstances surrounding her disappearance remain unclear, but relatives and colleagues strongly suspect she was abducted.
The incident has sparked widespread concern across social media platforms, where friends, colleagues, and well-wishers have launched awareness campaigns urging Nigerians to share her details widely.
Many expressed heartbreak that such a promising young professional, who had only just celebrated one of the proudest milestones in her life, could become a victim of the growing menace of insecurity on Nigerian highways.
Security analysts note that the Abuja–Lokoja–Benin corridor has, in recent years, been a hotspot for kidnappings, with armed groups frequently targeting travelers for ransom.
Despite repeated assurances from the government to address insecurity, incidents like Udoka’s abduction continue to highlight the vulnerability of ordinary citizens, including students, professionals, and families using the nation’s major highways.
Civil society organizations and student unions have also condemned the abduction, calling on security agencies to launch an immediate and coordinated rescue operation.
“This is not just about one person,” a student leader in Enugu told DDM. “It is about the safety of every Nigerian who has to travel by road in search of education, work, or family.”
For the family of the missing lawyer, the experience has been deeply traumatizing.
A relative who spoke with reporters appealed to authorities, community leaders, and anyone with useful information to step forward.
“Peace was full of life, excited about her future, and looking forward to starting her career in law. We just want her back safely,” the family member said.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has yet to issue an official statement, but lawyers online have expressed solidarity, stressing that her abduction is not only a personal tragedy but also a reflection of the grave dangers confronting young professionals in the country.
As of the time of filing this report, the whereabouts of Onyesom Peace Udoka remain unknown.
Security authorities have been urged to intensify intelligence-gathering and ensure her safe return, while Nigerians are called upon to provide any credible leads that may assist the ongoing search.
