Kidnap: NUJ Seeks Ex-NBA President’s Release

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Rivers state Council, has joined all people of goodwill across Nigeria and the world to call for the immediate and unconditional release of the immediate past President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Barrister Okey Wali, SAN, by his unidentified abductors.
A statement signed by State Chairman of NUJ, Opaka  Dokubo indicated that the kidnapping of Barr. Wali only underscores the abysmal level of moral decadence in our society and the unchecked resurgence of crime and criminality in our state.
“It is against this background that the union calls on the Nigeria Police in particular, and the security agencies in general, to rise up to the occasion and effect the rescue of not only Barr. Okey Wali and all other unlawful captives, but also halt the rise of dangerous crimes and general feeling of insecurity in the state”, he said.
The union emphasised the need for the police and security agencies to maintain a high level of efficiency saying that this has even become more imperative with the growing political activities in the run up to the 2015 general elections.
“The union, in this regard, also sounds this clarion call to politicians in the state to guard their utterances and actions in order not to precipitate crisis or aggravate the already fragile security atmosphere”, Dokubo said.
The union also urged politicians in the State to prize the peace and security of the state higher and above their individual and sectional ambitions and interests.
“Indeed, they should not forget that there is life after elections, and since the primary responsibility of government is to protect lives and property, it will be counter -productive and present them as insincere and self-seeking, if they do not make conscious efforts to discourage thuggery and electoral violence concomitant to crimes”, the union said.
“Rivers State and Rivers people do not deserve to be taken through the pre-2007 security challenges and their attendant horrifying experiences,” the NUJ Chairman warned.