An official of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, and Vice Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Kogi State chapter, Eleojo Opaluwa, has allegedly been abducted by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF.
It was gathered that Mr Opaluwa was abducted by operatives of NPF’s Intelligence Response Team, IRT, in Mararaba, Nasarawa State on August 4, 2024 and has been kept incommunicado since.
It was gathered that at 2pm on Sunday the 4th day of August 2024, Eleojo Opaluwa got a call and unceremoniously left his family at Mararaba to meet with the presume caller at some described spot in Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
He was seen by eye witness who confirmed to his family that he was whisked away by security personnel in their vehicles (one Hilux and a Gulf).
The same Sunday at about 5 pm, some security personnel in a Toyota jeep went to NUEE office at Area 8 Garki to inquire from NUEE office watchman if anyone works in the office known as Eleojo or Opaluwa and he confirmed to them that he works there but that since it was weekend he was not in the office.
According sources, his family not aware that he was taken into custody by security operatives, began a frantic search for him.
It was learned that the family reported at the Mararaba police station of his disappearance.
The Police officers at the Mararaba Police Station were said to have informed the family to report to the station on Monday 5th August 2024 if he still did not return home.
The family members returned to the Mararaba Police Station and were directed to bring Opaluwa picture and other details to enable them declare him missing.
Gistcore learned that despite Opaluwa’s family doing all the police requested of them, the Police officers have still not declared Opaluwa missing till today.
Confirming the arrest of Opaluwa, NUEE in a statement by NUEE’s Acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, said “We are reliably informed that at about 2 pm on Sunday, August 4, 2024, Comrade Opaluwa who is a staff of the NUEE left his house in Maraba, Nasarawa State, and has not returned to his home since.
“It was confirmed that he was whisked away by security personnel in their vehicles (one Hilux and a gulf) to an unknown destination.
Furthermore, on that same faithful Sunday 4th August at about 5 pm, some security personnel in a Toyota Jeep went to our liaison office at Area 8, Garki, to ask after Opaluwa.
“On August 8, 2024, at about 5.30 pm, Opaluwa was brought to his office by some security officers to search our office, denying him access to talk with his colleagues, and then whisked him out again.
“We have tried every effort to reach him on the phone but all to no avail. We visited some police stations at Maraba and environs, but they denied having him in their custody.
“We contacted our lawyer to write to the National Security Adviser to the President, intimating him of the predicament of Opaluwa where he is denied access to his lawyer, family, and freedom of movement amongst other rights.
“Furthermore, we are also reliably informed that Opaluwa was arrested and detained by security personnel at the IRT.
“We demand without further delay the immediate release of Opaluwa who has been illegally detained since August 4, 2024 till date. This is a flagrant abuse of his rights as a citizen of Nigeria.”
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