Despite the payment of a ransom, Okunwa’s whereabouts remain unknown nearly nine months later, according to information obtained by SaharaReporters on Sunday.
A worrying situation has developed in Imo State, Southeast Nigeria, where Assistant Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Mr. Christian Okunwa, was abducted from his office on December 2, 2023.
Despite the payment of a ransom, Okunwa’s whereabouts remain unknown nearly nine months later, according to information obtained by SaharaReporters on Sunday.
The NCoS’s decision to threaten eviction of Mr. Okunwa’s wife and four children from the barracks has exacerbated the family’s distress.
This development raises concerns about the family’s welfare and the efforts being made to secure Okunwa’s release.
The incident underscores the vulnerabilities faced by law enforcement personnel and their families in Nigeria, where kidnapping and insecurity are rampant.
The situation necessitates immediate attention and action from the authorities to ensure Okunwa’s safe return and provide support to his family during this challenging time.
One of Okunwa’s four children told SaharaReporters on Sunday that despite providing the information of the kidnappers and account number through which the ransom was paid to the NCoS, nothing was done to assist the family.
Okunwa’s child said, “My father, Mr. Christian Okunwa, an Assistant Controller of Nigeria Correctional Service was kidnapped on December 2, 2023 at his station at Okigwe, Imo State.
“We got to know about the abduction after his colleague contacted us asking if we heard from him. The kidnappers later contacted us and we paid the stated ransom.”
“We notified the prison office headquarters and sent the kidnappers contact and Moniepoint account details through which the ransom was paid,” he stated.
He regretted that till date, “they have done nothing,” lamenting that rather, “the NCoS asked us to come and vacate their premises.”
“We have been without any help. My mother has nothing doing and has four of us. I am just 15 years old.
“The Service has long moved on and never did anything. We have been struggling,” he narrated.
When Media reached out to the spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service, Abubakar Umar, he dismissed the allegation that the service had abandoned the family.
He said, “The service is not silent on the unfortunate incident. There is a huge collaboration among the security agencies – the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police, but because they have not been able to recover the man, it will be premature for us to start diffusing information outside on the modus operandi adopted in recovering the officer.
“In this kind of operation, we don’t speak unless success is achieved.”
On the threats to evict the family from their apartment, Abubakar said, “Regarding the issue of ejecting them from the accommodation, I am not aware of that, so I cannot speak on that, but I will reach out to the PRO in Imo State for more information.”
Leave a Reply