Fear has gripped the judiciary, particularly Senior Advocates of Nigeria as well as over the abduction of Human Rights Lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, who was reportedly abducted by gunmen at Ehor near Benin City in Edo.
Prominent lawyers on Sunday condemned his the abduction describing the spate of kidnappings across the country as worrisome.
The lawyers expressed grave concern about security situation in the country and urged security agencies to intensify their efforts toward apprehending the kidnappers..
Mr Onyekachi Ubani, Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, said the spate of kidnappings in Nigeria was worrisome.
“It is very appalling; both low and high profile individuals are being kidnapped across the country. It shows that there is a problem,” he said.
Also speaking, a human rights activist, Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, said Ozekhome’s abduction was a reflection of the security situation in the country.
Mumuni, who is the Executive Director, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), a human rights group, attributed the wave of kidnappings by some unscrupulous elements to poverty and unemployment.
He said: “Until socio-economic injustices are tackled, we may continue to have these security challenges.
“Kidnapping is now rampant because of the limited opportunities available to Nigerians due to poverty and unemployment.”
On his part, another human rights activist, Mr. Fred Agbaje, said it was regrettable that Edo had become a hotbed of high profile kidnappings.
Agbaje urged government at all levels to ensure that citizens had access to adequate welfare packages in line with the social contract theory in governance.
Under the social contract theory, it is imperative that lives and properties should be protected, he said.
Meanwhile, the Edo Police Command has vowed to ensure that Ozekhome, and his driver were released unhurt.
The Edo Police Commissioner, Mr Folunso Adebanjo, who spoke with newsmen on Sunday in Benin, however, did not disclose the measures being taken to secure their release.
“This is a security matter. But we will ensure that they are freed unhurt”, he said.
Adebanjo had told newsmen that assistant superintendent of police, a police inspector and two other officers were killed in a gun duel with the attackers while the slain police officers were trying to rescue him.