A human rights activist, Comrade Osita Obi, has raised concerns over the growing number of missing persons in Anambra State.
Speaking at a press conference in Awka, Obi lamented that disappearances have become alarmingly frequent in the state, with little to no efforts made to trace the victims. He noted that besides cases of kidnapping where victims were never found, several high-profile individuals have vanished without a trace, and authorities seem indifferent.
Among the missing individuals, he highlighted the cases of businessman Mr. Benjamin Ezemma, House of Assembly member Hon. Justice Azuka, and Labour Party’s 2021 governorship candidate Mr. Obiora Agbasimalo, all of whom disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
“I am particularly troubled by the sudden disappearance of Mr. Benjamin Ezemma, also known as Big Ben, who serves as the Vice Chairman of Dubai Estate. He went missing on November 12, and there has been no trace of him since,” Obi said.
He called on the government to take urgent action, emphasizing that anyone could be the next victim. “Today it is Ben; tomorrow, it could be any of us. The government has the capacity to find him, so what is stopping them? What is the federal government doing about this?”
Obi questioned the relevance of national identification systems, such as SIM and NIN registrations, if they cannot be utilized to track missing persons. He urged security agencies, including the police, Department of State Services (DSS), and National Security Adviser’s office, to take immediate action.
“Security agencies should use available technology to track down those responsible. Even monitoring Ben’s call records could provide crucial leads about his activities and contacts before he vanished,” he added.
The activist also revealed that some individuals suspected of having links to Ezemma’s disappearance have been taken to court. He called on journalists to actively cover the case to prevent it from being ignored.
While commending the DSS in Anambra for its efforts, Obi criticized the state police command, describing its handling of the case as incompetent.
“I am disappointed with the police response. Anambra should not become a retirement dumping ground for police officers who are only here to make money. If this negligence continues, we may be left with no choice but to stage a protest,” he warned.
