Lagos – Some prominent lawyers and human rights activists on Thursday hailed the release of a legal practitioner, Mr Mike Ozekhome (SAN), by his abductors.

They also urged government to intensify efforts in addressing the security challenges in the country.

Ozekhome was abducted on Aug. 23 at Ehor, near Benin City, in Edo.

Mr Taiwo Taiwo, Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos branch, said that the release was a huge relief for the legal profession.

“We are happy about the release, but we should not lose sight of the fact that there is so much insecurity in the nation.

“The government must double its efforts to arrest the incessant kidnapping of Nigerians,” Taiwo said.

A lawyer and human rights activist, Mr Fred Agbaje, said he was disappointed with the time it took to secure Ozekhome’s release.

Agbaje said, “We are happy that he has been released, but we are disappointed with the efforts of our security operatives.”

He urged government at all levels to take urgent steps to address the issue of the welfare of Nigerians.

Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, Executive Director, Socioeconomic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), a human rights group, also expressed a similar view.

Mumuni said: “The point that should be made, in spite of the release of Ozekhome and others who had been kidnapped in the past, is that we need to improve our security apparatus.

“This is the only way to attract foreign investments into the country, because nobody would want to invest in an unsafe environment.”

On his part, a human rights activist, Mr Ayodele Akele, said the security agencies should live up to their mandate.

“It is embarrassing that someone could be kidnapped for over two weeks in this country,” Akele said. (NAN)