…Dumps Them In Cell
Juliana Francis
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), a nonprofit organisation, has urged the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene in the case concerning a father and her three daughters, who appeared to have been dumped and abandoned in the detention facility of Anti-kidnapping Unit of Abia State Police Command.According to the Executive Director of RULAAC, Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma, Mrs Chioma Chikadibia, who is wife of the detained man and mother of the three girls, drew attention of RULAAC to the incident.
Chikadibia, who described the arrest of her family as synonymous with them being kidnapped, identified her
husband as Mr. Chikadibia Sunday and their three daughters, namely, Miss Sunday Glory, Miss Chikadibia Ngozi Goodness and Miss Chikadibia Ogechi Gift.
Nwanguma said: “The distraught woman who informed us that she has been sick said the incident happened at about 11 pm on Saturday, the 12th day of April 2025, at their family compound in Alaukwu village in Osisioma Ngwa LGA, Abia State.
Mrs Chioma Chikadibia said the policemen did not disclose their identity or the reason for their actions. In the words of one of the daughters, ‘They were fully armed, they were five in number, they were not in uniform, they came with two vehicles; one Hilux and one Sienna, they said go to Glory’s room and search, where is Ikenna’s, they broke the door of his room, collected all the properties inside his room and some money, they came to my Dad’s room collected his money and some properties, then they went to the lobby and carried our big generator, my sister’s new duvet, shovel and two Cutlass’. They said my mother had not started crying, that this is the beginning.”
On how one of the daughters, Ngozi Chikadibia was arrested, her neighbour at her shop revealed that someone called Ngozi through an unknown number and asked her to come and carry some goods. ‘That was how she was kidnapped, likewise Sunday Glory, even till now their shops are open’.
Nwanguma said: “We were further informed that Gift Chikadibia, a final year student at the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu who returned home for Easter holiday was also arrested and they have all been dumped and abandoned in detention since three weeks as of date.
“The men whom they later discovered were police officers from the ‘Anti−kidnapping Unit, Mopol Base Umuahia’, did not reveal the reason for the arrest of the man and her three daughters and their continued detention incommunicado till date at the ‘Mopol Base’.
“Mrs. Chikadibia said the police men, about five in number, came in two vehicles: a white Hilux and a Sierra, heavily armed. During the Gestapo-like operation, the invading operatives took away household properties as well as some money from her husband, Mr Chikadibia.
“She said that the family has gone to the base in their desperate efforts to see their detained members, but were not granted access to see them or hear from them. ‘We went to see them with a Barrister, but they said they are not there. ‘ However, a reliable source confirmed to them that they are there, allegedly ‘dumped one side’ and being ‘maltreated’ inside the base.’
“The distraught woman does not know how her husband and three daughters are faring and feeding. She is seriously concerned about their physical well-being and psychological integrity.”
Nwanguma said that RULAAC, as an organisation that is concerned with human rights violations, is alarmed at this information, which reveals a gross abuse of police power, abuse of due process and established procedures for arrest, detention and treatment of persons arrested and detained for any alleged offence.
He added: “It reveals gross violation of the fundamental human rights of the persons affected. RULAAC calls on police authorities at both the Abia State Police Command and the Force Headquarters to urgently intervene and ensure prompt and impartial investigation, ensuring accountability and redress.”
