NBA decries attacks on members, arms proliferation

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has decried the spate of armed attacks against its members and the increasing proliferation of arms in the society.

In a statement signed on Monday by the president, Paul Usoro (SAN), NBA wondered what happened to the enforcement of the law prohibiting unlicensed possession of firearms.

The NBA recalled the gun attack by hoodlums on the past chairman of the association, A.A. Atemoagbo along AuchiBenin Road near Ehor in Edo State which resulted in the death of his wife, Joan while their Honda CRV car was riddled with bullets.

“This very unfortunate and depressing incident which, sadly, is not isolated, highlights two critical issues, both related to security of lives and property in our land,” he said.

Usoro also wondered how the hoodlums managed to hold Atemoagbo for days and payment of ransom extracted from him without being detected as well as the growth of criminal gangs who are able to replace one victim with another undetected.

“How come such organized criminal rings and gangs operate brazenly without hindrance and with such freedom and effrontery? What happened to the intelligence capabilities of our security agencies? Have the criminals developed strategies and operating modus that are seemingly superior to those of our intelligence and security agencies, thereby making the criminals invincible and, perhaps, untouchable?” He asked.