Shock and outrage have followed the killing of a prominent Abuja based lawyer after his family paid a ransom demanded by kidnappers, only to later discover that he had already been murdered. The tragedy has once again drawn attention to Nigeria’s worsening security situation and the cruelty of criminal gangs.
According to relatives, the lawyer was abducted while returning from work last week. The kidnappers later contacted the family, demanding three million naira and threatening to kill him if the money was not delivered within twenty four hours.
In desperate efforts to save his life, the family reportedly raised the funds and paid the ransom. However, days later, they were directed to a remote area where his lifeless body was eventually found.
Chilling details have emerged from the final phone calls between the victim and his family. In one call, he reportedly begged for help, describing harsh conditions and pleading for the ransom to be paid quickly. Those calls have since become a painful reminder of his final moments.
The police have confirmed the incident and say an investigation is underway to track down the perpetrators. Security sources admit that kidnappings for ransom have become increasingly sophisticated, with criminal networks operating across state lines.
Legal practitioners across Abuja have condemned the killing, describing it as an attack on the rule of law. The Nigerian Bar Association has called for urgent security reforms and better protection for citizens, warning that the profession is becoming increasingly vulnerable.
Public reaction has been intense, with many Nigerians expressing anger over what they see as a failure of the state to guarantee basic safety. Social media platforms are flooded with demands for tougher action against kidnappers and swift justice for the victim.
As the family prepares to lay their loved one to rest, their grief has become a symbol of a broader national tragedy, one that continues to unfold daily in communities across the country.
