Open Appeal to the Inspector General of Police and Fellow Nigerians
Latest Headlines, Letters/Rejoinders, Press Releases Thursday, January 30th, 2014
Mr. Mohammed D. Abubakar Inspector General of Police Force Headquarters Louis Edet House FCT, Abuja Ref: CB.7000/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.104/556 Ref: CB.7000/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.171/571
Dear Mr. Abubakar,
For almost two years now, we have followed up with deep concern the sad news of the kidnap of our brother in-law, Mr. Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Udemba, which took place on March 21, 2012 at Nkwelle Ezunaka, Anambra State. Regrettably, important-personnel inaccessibility at your exalted office, our longstanding experience of lengthy, frustrating, and unreliable bureaucratic process, coupled with apparent investigational reluctance of the Anambra State Police Command, have compelled us to make this appeal public. While family and relations are still gasping to recover from, as much as understand, this unfortunate incident that took place at Nkwelle Ezunaka area close to Onitsha, Anambra State, we are still worried that little or no attempts have been made by the Anambra State Police Command to investigate Mr. Udemba’s kidnap.
Developments regarding the willingness and readiness of the Anambra State Police Command to investigate his kidnap have, for some time now, remained disturbingly controversial and suspect at best. Sir, we are still in shock that even as the name of a major person of interest in his kidnap was provided to the Nigerian Police with copies forwarded to the former Anambra State Police Commissioner, Mr. Ballah Nasarawa, neither has any arrest been made nor has any investigation situation report provided to the long-suffering family of Mr. Udemba. Sir, you would need to imagine for a moment, the level of psychological and emotional trauma to which the wife and children of Mr. Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Udemba have been subjected for almost two years now.
It is expedient to mention that at some point, letters of complaint and appeal were directly addressed and dispatched by this party to President Jonathan and Governor Obi of Anambra State. Given the gravity of this matter, those letters were registered and delivered by courier but neither a reply nor a response has come forth. Moreover, countless efforts made to reach those two important offices for help were unsuccessful and access impossible. Sir, besides the Presidency and the Governor of Anambra State, we are hereby appealing to you, in particular, and to all Nigerians, in general, to come to our assistance and possibly suggest ways to help all of us come out of this quagmire with the result of investigations on all those involved, in any way or associated with his kidnap, publicized. We firmly believe that the family of Mr. Emmanuel Udemba, along with his relations and friends, has the right to an honest, helpful and transparent investigation result from the police at this very challenging time. At this juncture, we solicit your urgent assistance and that of all well-meaning Nigerians.
Sir, an entire town, family, friends and relations of Mr. Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Udemba are exceedingly troubled that despite all the reports and letters of appeal sent to the Federal Police Department and Anambra State Police Command, investigation situation feedbacks on the whereabouts of Mr. Udemba, those of his kidnappers and affiliates have remained virtually elusive or simply nonexistent as at today. We call upon you, sir, to use your good offices and constitute an independent investigation panel on the disappearance of Mr. Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Udemba as well as deeply probe the modes of operation of the Anambra State Police Command.
Mr. D.P. Yakadi (Anambra State Deputy Commissioner of Police) has been severally mentioned as the overseer of the office that investigates kidnap cases in Anambra state. From our understanding, Mr. Yakadi has been in Anambra state since 2006. Apparently, he was also present in Anambra state throughout the period when Mr. Ballah Nassarawa was the Commissioner of Police in the state. We strongly believe that a man of his caliber and clout should be able to know as well as provide Nigerians with useful information regarding the result of police investigation on the kidnap of Mr. Udemba, its attendant permutations and why the police decided to ignore or inordinately delay investigations in Mr. Udemba’s own case.
While we do appreciate some positive changes that have taken place in the Police Force as evident in many states and in some of the states around Anambra State, at the same time we restate our unwavering conviction that an entire town, family and relations of Mr. Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Udemba, both as loyal citizens of Nigeria and human beings with inalienable rights, deserve a meaningful closure to this ugly incident.
Sir, with this heartfelt appeal, we passionately plead for your very considerate and expeditious intervention. On behalf of already-traumatized and agonizing wife and children of Mr. Emmanuel C. Udemba, we also plead with all Nigerians of goodwill to urge the office of the Anambra State Commissioner of Police (past and present) and the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. D.P. Yakadi, to honestly investigate the kidnap of Mr. Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Udemba, furnish Nigerians and the world with the result of their investigations. Most of all, may they explain to Nigerians why the police have not made any arrests despite their receipt of the name of a major person of interest and knowledge of another uniquely implicating evidence in this crime over a year ago. We would very gratefully appreciate it if you could give this heartfelt appeal every favorable attention it deserves.
Signed for Anemelu Family, Sir Joe. C. Anemelu janemelu@yahoo.com CC: President Federal Republic of Nigeria Governor of Anambra State Senate Committee on Police Affairs Ministry of Police Affairs Chairman, Police Service Commission Attorney General and Minister for Justice Executive Director, National Center for Women Development Relevant Human Rights Organizations HRH, Igwe of Nnokwa Mr. E.C. Udemba Family
Short URL: https://www.africanexaminer.com/?p=7801
Just reading this stuff now! For almost two years and the police took no action in Anambra State. Could you believe it??? What a very big shame to Nigeria! I feel sorry for the poor woman and her kids. I hope the IG does something quick to help them.
The same appeal was on page 10 of the Sun Newspaper yesterday. This case will certainly show how sincere, professional and capable the IG is. Are they able to track those people responsible for this man’s kidnap? Does Nigeria have that capability? Leaving an open phone contact number that is not workable is not the best way to go. Would he follow up now to see that justice is done to this type of case in Anambra state? I’m sure there are other hidden cases like that in our state. Giving orders and following them through is not difficult in a society where people want to do their job well.