By Perez Brisibe

SAPELE—LAWYERS in Sapele Judicial Division have refused to sit for the past four days in protest of their kidnapped colleague, Mr. Desmond Dudu.

Dudu was abducted last Sunday evening along Eku-Abraka Road in Ethiope East Local Government Area by unknown gunmen.

In a protest for the unconditional release of Dudu, hundreds of lawyers of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Sapele branch, took to the streets of Sapele carrying placards.

Freedom march, appeal

Some of them had “Free Barr. Dudu,” “Kidnapping is wrong and evil,” “Stop the kidnapping and release our colleagues,” among others, written on them.

Speaking on behalf of the protesting lawyers the Sapele Police Station, Chairman of the branch, Gabriel Ekerewe, said: “We are highly irritated with the kidnap of our colleague and we are using this medium to appeal to the kidnappers to release him unconditionally.”

In his response, the Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Mammah Rijau, while expressing sympathy over the incident, told the lawyers to be patient, saying police was on top of the situation and doing their best to ensure the release of their colleague and arrest of the kidnappers.

He said: “I urge you to advice the Dudu family not to negotiate with his abductors, but to provide the police with every available information.”