The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has demanded an urgent, independent and transparent investigation into the disappearance of Ekenne Valentine, a member of the Anambra State Vigilante Group (AVG), who vanished during a security operation nearly two years ago.
Valentine, who served with the Ukpor Unit of the vigilante group for about three years, was last heard from on 9 August 2024. His father, Chief Benjamin Nwosuagwu, was informed days later that his son had failed to return from an operation in which other team members reportedly returned safely.
Nwosuagwu has since made repeated trips from his base in Imo State to Anambra State, visiting vigilante offices in Onitsha, Awka and Ukpor. Officials confirmed his son’s membership but could not explain what became of him. A subsequent petition to the Anambra State Police Command has yet to yield a publicly known outcome, despite reports that senior vigilante officials have acknowledged the disappearance while giving conflicting accounts of the circumstances. No operational report has been shared with the family.
RULAAC’s Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, said the prolonged silence was unacceptable.
“No family should be left to endure years of uncertainty over the disappearance of a loved one without answers from those who had responsibility for his deployment and safety,” Nwanguma said. “The disappearance of a person during an official security operation imposes a clear duty on the relevant authorities to establish the facts, account for the missing person, and keep the family informed.”
He said the case raised broader questions about oversight within the state’s security architecture.
“The prolonged failure to establish the whereabouts of Ekenne Valentine raises serious concerns about operational accountability, command responsibility and the effectiveness of the investigation conducted so far,” he said. “Every day that passes without meaningful progress deepens the suffering of the family and weakens public confidence in our security institutions.”
The organisation said it has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police and the Governor of Anambra State, seeking urgent intervention. Among its demands, RULAAC wants the case transferred to, or supervised by, the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) or another competent unit; the production of all operational records tied to the mission, including deployment orders, casualty records and communication logs; the questioning of everyone who took part in the operation or holds relevant information; full cooperation between the vigilante group and the police; regular updates to the family; and disciplinary or criminal action against anyone found to have concealed information or obstructed the inquiry.
RULAAC also called on the Anambra State Governor to tighten oversight of the vigilante group and ensure the disappearance is independently investigated, with lessons drawn to strengthen accountability in the state’s security structure.
“The rule of law demands that no person disappears during an official security operation without a full accounting,” Nwanguma said. “Justice demands truth. The family deserves answers, and the public deserves the assurance that security institutions are accountable for those who serve under their command.”
The group said it stands in solidarity with Nwosuagwu and his family, and renewed its call on the Inspector-General of Police, the Anambra State Governor and other relevant authorities to act swiftly to establish the truth and ensure justice is served.
