I commiserate with the Calabar Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association over the kidnap of one of its members, Mr. Ettah Ebri Ukagu. I am told this sad incident occured on 30th January, 2020 during the Branch’s annual law week.
Coming hot on the heels of the kidnap of Zainab Kashimi, Vice-Chair of the Jalingo Branch, Mr. Ukagu’s kidnap is further evidence of the fact that the insecurity in the country is now at crisis levels.
My heart goes out to the family, friends and colleagues of Mr. Ukagu. I hope that, like Mrs. Kashimi, he will regain his freedom without any issues.
I reiterate my demand for government to rethink and rejig its strategy for combatting these challenges. Aside from being reactive there is a need for government to probe and examine the underlying causes of this spate of kidnappings and criminality.
Ensuring the safety of its citizens is one of government’s primary obligations and duties and there is no gainsaying the fact that this obligation and duty is not being discharged at the present time.
Dr. Babatunde Ajibade, SAN FCIArb