The global human rights organisation, Amnesty International, has raised the alarm of alleged “systematic and deliberate enforced disappearance” of many people arrested by Nigerian security agencies in South East region.
The organisation in a statement shared on its official X handle on Monday lamented that the security agencies use the pretence that the victims were members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to carry out the clandestine act.
The group listed some names of people both the Nigerian military, police and department of State Services (DSS), arrested in different parts of South East from 2018 till date that have been disappeared.
The global human rights organisation stated that denial of the security agencies have put their families and relations through endless anguish.
“In southeast Nigeria, many people were arrested by state agents, without any trace of their whereabouts, and the state denies knowledge of where they are, putting their families through endless anguish:
“Sunday Nwafor, a 47-year-old businessman was last seen on 27 February 2020 after his arrest by army officials from 140 Brigade Ohafia, Abia State.
“Obioma Okoroafor (40 years) Ozoemela Nwaokorie (34 years) and Ogechi Ifere Matins were arrested on 27 October 2020 by men of the Nigerian Army at Oyigbo, Rivers State during the #EndSARS protests.
“Dozens of young men detained at SARS Awkuzu #Anambra state have disappeared. Nothing was heard about their whereabouts. Iloanya Chijioke 20–years old is one of them. He was last seen in November 2012.”
It also added “Maduabuchi Obinwa, aged 22, disappeared after his abduction on 24 April 2022, when security agents from the Awkuzu State Criminal Investigation Department raided his house in Ekwulobia, Anambra state.
“Obiora Agbasimalo, a governorship candidate, was abducted by gunmen on 18 September 2021 while going to an election campaign outing in Azia town, Anambra state.
“Sunday Ifedi and Calista Ifedi, a couple, were taken by security operatives from their home in Enugu on 23 November 2021, because of their alleged membership of the Indigenous People of Biafra. The fates and whereabouts of all these people remained unknown at the end of the year,” the statement partly read.
https://x.com/AmnestyNigeria/status/1825414625069809909?t=AIs2Am7PkvuczcJXGF3unA&s=19
Meanwhile, efforts to speak with the Director Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, were unsuccessful as he did not take his calls.
As at the time of filing this report, he had yet to respond to a text message inquiry.
Also the Police Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, did not take his calls or respond to a text message seeking his reaction on the allegations.
