TheCable

Okey Wali, immediate past president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), who was abducted by unknown gunmen on October 11, has been freed.

This was confirmed in a statement issued by Augustine Alegeh, current president of the NBA.

Wali was released by his abductors at about 11pm on Thursday after 13 days in captivity.

“I have personally spoken to him and can confirm that he is hale, hearty and in good spirit,” Alegeh said.

“The Nigerian Bar Association is greatly delighted by the safe release of Okey Wali, SAN and wishes to express appreciation to all NBA members and well-meaning Nigerians who supported the bar and the Okey Wali family during this trying period.

“We must also commend NBA members for keeping calm throughout this period and not taking any steps that may have directly or indirectly jeopardised the efforts for his safe release, which have now yielded positive results.”

NBA commended the security agencies in securing Wali’s safe release, particularly singling out the director general of the state security services (SSS), the inspector-general of police and the SSS state directors and police commissioners in Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and Edo states who worked tirelessly to secure his safe release deserve special mention.”

Alegeh did not provide details of the process that led to the release but he reiterated the fact that the spate of kidnappings and general state of insecurity in Nigeria is cause for great concern and urged the government to promptly address the present state of insecurity in the country.

“We cannot continue to live in fear of kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminals,” he said.