Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Henry Owen
Amnesty International Nigeria has raised alarm over the abduction of Mr. Ikechukwu Henry, a resident of Garki, Enugu, who was allegedly taken by armed men in military uniform in the early hours of August 23, 2021.
According to Amnesty International, the victim, originally from Orlu in Imo State, was forcibly removed from his home around 2:00 a.m. by a group of 10 to 15 men believed to be security operatives. His wife, a 27-year-old mother of one, recounted the traumatic event, describing how the men stormed their residence and dragged her husband away without explanation.
“They [the abductors] were in military uniform, about 10 to 15 men. They invaded our compound at about 2:00 a.m. and started knocking on our door. I woke up, scared, and when I opened, I saw men in uniform. They had surrounded our house,” she told Amnesty International.
She further explained that the men, who refused to identify themselves, broke into their home, assaulted her husband, and accused him of being a member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
“They dragged my husband outside and were slapping him. I shouted in shock, but they warned me not to make noise or they would beat me. They searched the house but found nothing,” she said.
The woman said the armed men forced her, her husband, and their three-month-old baby into a Hilux vehicle and drove them to the Nigerian Army 82 Division in Enugu, where they were detained.
“We got there around 4:00 a.m. and stayed in the guardroom until morning. Then they started interrogating us. I told them my husband is a caterer who cooks for people during ceremonies,” she added.
According to her, three days later, when she returned to the barracks to check on her husband, she was informed that he had been transferred to Abuja but was not told the exact location.
“Since 23 August 2021, when my husband was abducted, I have not seen him. We have been searching for him everywhere,” she lamented.
Amnesty International Nigeria condemned the incident, calling it a gross violation of human rights and a worrying pattern of enforced disappearances in the country.
The organization has urged Nigerian authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding Mr. Henry’s disappearance, ensure accountability for those responsible, and reunite him with his family.
Amnesty International further reiterated that no security or intelligence agency has the legal right to detain individuals in secret locations or without due process, emphasizing the importance of transparency and respect for human rights in all security operations.
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