Miss Eunice Ameh, the young lawyer and corps member who was abducted in Abuja by suspected “one chance” operators while returning home from work on Tuesday, May 6, 2026, and was eventually released on Sunday, May 10, 2026, after payment of a ransom, has now been visited by members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Abuja Branch Human Rights Committee, who pledged to stand by her and to see the matter through until those responsible are brought to justice.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-Summer-IDRI-Masterclass.jpg")
Eunice Ameh, who is also referred to in some accounts as Linda Ameh, was on her way home to Life Camp on Tuesday, May 6, 2026, after closing from work at Blades and Butchers Ltd, located on Lake Chad Crescent in Maitama, Abuja, at about 5:40 p.m., when she was abducted by her assailants.
She had recently resumed work as a sales manager with the company and was nearing the completion of her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) service, including her final Community Development Service activities.
According to family sources, her phone lines became unreachable shortly after she left work and remained switched off despite repeated attempts to contact her. Her disappearance was immediately reported to the Maitama Division of the FCT Police Command and to the National Youth Service Corps.
The abductors, who were suspected to be “one chance” operators a criminal gang infamous in Abuja for hijacking unsuspecting passengers who board commercial vehicles, robbing them, sometimes forcing them to make withdrawals at ATMs, and in extreme cases holding them for ransom were said to have contacted her family and demanded a ransom of N20 million for her release.
She was held by her abductors from Wednesday, May 6, 2026, until she was eventually released on Sunday, May 10, 2026.
Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Festus Ogun, was among the first to confirm her release in a post shared on X on Sunday, stating that she was released after a ransom was allegedly paid, although he did not disclose the amount.
Ogun wrote: “Eunice, the Abuja lawyer earlier abducted, has been freed after payment of ransom. It’s Eunice, it could be anyone tomorrow. The security situation in the country is alarming. It makes me wonder really how this President sleeps at night. I think he doesn’t just give a damn.”
A family source had also confirmed on Sunday that she was found alive and unharmed.
The FCT Police Command also confirmed that the legal practitioner who was reported missing on May 6, 2026, had regained her freedom and was found safe.
The command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday, noting that Ameh personally reported to the Maitama Police Station and provided details surrounding the incident.
“The FCT Police Command wishes to inform the public that Ms Linda Ameh, the legal practitioner earlier reported missing on May 6, 2026, has been found and personally reported to the Maitama Police Station to provide details of the incident,” the statement read.
Adeh added: “The command further states that investigations are ongoing to apprehend those responsible for the crime, while Ms Ameh is assisting the police with useful information to aid ongoing investigative efforts and ensure the perpetrators are apprehended.”
Following the news of her abduction, the disappearance had sparked widespread concern within the Nigerian Bar Association, which publicly demanded urgent action from security agencies.
The NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, in a statement issued on Saturday night before her release, described the incident as deeply personal to lawyers across the country.
“When a young lawyer goes missing, the pain is not distant to the Nigerian Bar Association, it is personal,” the NBA President said.
“We are more than a professional body; we are a community bound by shared sacrifice, shared dreams, and a collective duty to stand for one another,” the statement read.
Following her release, the NBA Abuja Branch Human Rights Committee, which had been actively monitoring the case from the outset, maintained close contact with her and her family. The committee has now formally visited her to express solidarity and to provide support following her traumatic experience.
The delegation was led by Mr. Anthony Enahoro Idoko, Esq., the Vice Chairman of NBA Abuja Branch, who doubles as the Chairman of the branch’s Human Rights Committee.
Other members of the delegation included Dooyum Emmanuel, Michael Ochili, Ighoakpo Ighorhiohwunu, and Joseph Atsaka.
The visit forms part of ongoing efforts by the NBA to ensure her welfare and recovery.
Sources confirmed that Eunice Ameh is currently undergoing therapy as she recovers from the ordeal.
The committee, through its Chairman, Anthony Enahoro Idoko, reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing justice in the matter, declaring “We will see this through” and stating that investigations are still ongoing to identify and apprehend those responsible for the abduction.
The NBA has reiterated its resolve to stand by its members in times of distress and to continue advocating for accountability in cases involving threats to the safety of legal practitioners.
The Association also called on relevant authorities to intensify efforts to curb criminal activities, particularly the menace of “one chance” operations in Abuja, which continue to pose serious risks to residents.
The “one chance” criminal model in which unsuspecting passengers board commercial vehicles operated by criminals posing as legitimate transporters, only to be robbed, dispossessed of their valuables, and in extreme cases held for ransom has emerged in recent times as one of the most pressing security threats confronting residents of the Federal Capital Territory, with young women and corps members among the most vulnerable.
The abduction and eventual release of Eunice Ameh a young lawyer, a corps member nearing the completion of her NYSC service, and a recent entrant into the workforce has brought into sharp focus the broader security challenges confronting residents of Abuja and the country as a whole.
For the NBA, the incident is a stark reminder that members of the legal profession, no matter how young or how new to practice, are not immune from the criminal threats that endanger ordinary Nigerians on a daily basis. The personal tone struck by the NBA President that “the pain is not distant, it is personal” and the on-the-ground intervention by the Abuja Branch Human Rights Committee under the leadership of Mr. Anthony Enahoro Idoko reflect an Association determined to demonstrate that the welfare and safety of its members are not abstract concerns but matters of immediate institutional commitment.
For Eunice Ameh, the road ahead now includes therapy and recovery from a traumatic experience that no young person least of all a corps member preparing to complete national service should ever have to endure. For the FCT Police Command, the pressure is now on to ensure that the perpetrators are identified, apprehended and brought to justice.
And for the Federal Capital Territory and its residents, the case is a fresh reminder that the menace of “one chance” operations and the wider security challenges in Abuja and across Nigeria demand urgent, coordinated and sustained action from the relevant authorities.
“Order Your Copy Now” — Basil Momodu, Esq. Unveils Second Edition Of His Book, "Civil Procedure In Nigeria"
According to the learned author, Basil Momodu Esq. "Law review is a continuum. We will continue to track changes in the law to enrich future editions." Recommended Booksellers: Lagos: 08033855230, Abuja: 08035991379, and others.
_______________________________________________________________________
“Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence
Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via:
0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888
Website: www.alexandernigeria.com
The book, titled The Law of Torts in Nigeria: A Functional Approach, authored by Professor Hagler Sunny Okorie Ph.D and Ikeocha, Nathaniel Ngozi Esq, offers law students, practitioners, and academics a comprehensive guide to understanding and applying tort law in Nigerian courts. Interested buyers can place orders via the following contact numbers: 08028636615, 08037667945, 08032253813, or +234 902 196 2209.
_______________________________________________________________________
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR LAWYERS: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE
Reimagine your practice with the power of AI “...this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic.” — Ohio Books Ltd
Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe, Esq., ACIArb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director, Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.
Bonus:
Get a FREE eBook titled “How to Use the AI in Legalpedia and Law Pavilion” with every purchase.
How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌐 Website: www.benadigwe.com
Ebook Version: Access directly online at: https://selar.com/prv626
________________________________________________________________________ [A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
