RULAAC in a statement Sunday signed by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, described the continued uncertainty surrounding Valentine’s fate nearly two years after his disappearance as “deeply disturbing” and symptomatic of the weak accountability mechanisms governing security operations involving state-supported security outfits.
The organisation expressed concern that despite repeated complaints by Ekenne Valentine’s father, Chief Benjamin Nwosuagwu, to the leadership of the Anambra State Vigilante Group, the Anambra State Police Command and the National Human Rights Commission, no credible explanation has been provided regarding the circumstances of his disappearance, nor has any conclusive investigative outcome been communicated to the family.
RULAAC says information available to it shows Ekenne Valentine, who served with the Ukpor Unit of the Anambra State Vigilante Group for about three years, was last heard from on 9 August 2024. A few days later, his father was informed that his son had failed to return from a security operation in which other members of the vigilante team reportedly returned safely.
Chief Benjamin Nwosuagwu subsequently travelled repeatedly from Imo State to Anambra State in search of his son, visiting the offices of the Vigilante Group in Onitsha, Awka and Ukpor. Although officials confirmed that Ekenne Valentine was a registered member of the organisation, they failed to provide a satisfactory account of what happened to him.
The complainant later petitioned the Anambra State Police Command. However, despite the passage of almost two years, the investigation has not produced any publicly known outcome.
Media reports have also indicated that senior officials of the Anambra State Vigilante Group acknowledged that Ekenne Valentine disappeared during an operation. However, contradictory explanations have reportedly been offered regarding what happened to him, while no operational report or official account has been made available to his family.
Commenting on the case, the Executive Director of RULAAC, Okechukwu Nwanguma, said: “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. 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 continued: “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. Every day that passes without meaningful progress deepens the suffering of the family and weakens public confidence in our security institutions.”
RULAAC noted that accountability is indispensable to effective security governance and that the credibility of security institutions depends not only on their capacity to confront criminality but also on their willingness to account for the actions of their personnel and operations.
The organisation disclosed that it has submitted formal petitions to the Inspector-General of Police and the Governor of Anambra State, requesting urgent intervention to ensure that the matter is investigated independently, professionally and transparently.
Specifically, RULAAC is calling for:
– The immediate transfer or close supervision of the investigation by the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) or another competent investigative unit.
– The production and examination of all operational records relating to the mission during which Ekenne Valentine disappeared, including deployment orders, operational reports, casualty records and communication logs.
– The questioning of every officer who participated in the operation or possesses relevant information.
– Full cooperation between the Anambra State Vigilante Group and the Nigeria Police Force.
– Regular communication with the complainant regarding the progress of the investigation.
– Appropriate disciplinary or criminal action against any individual found to have concealed information, obstructed the investigation or otherwise violated the law.
RULAAC further urged the Governor of Anambra State to exercise effective oversight over the Anambra State Vigilante Group by ensuring that the circumstances surrounding the disappearance are independently investigated and that lessons are drawn to strengthen accountability within the State’s security architecture.
“The rule of law demands that no person disappears during an official security operation without a full accounting. 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,” Nwanguma added.
RULAAC reiterated its solidarity with Chief Benjamin Nwosuagwu and his family and called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Governor of Anambra State and all relevant authorities to act urgently to establish the truth regarding the disappearance of Ekenne Valentine and ensure that justice is done.