The wives of five engineers kidnapped during a road construction project in in 2021 have appealed to President and the leadership of the National Assembly to intervene and help locate their missing husbands.
The women made the appeal through a petition submitted in , calling on security agencies to intensify efforts to uncover the fate of the engineers who disappeared while working on the Abakaliki Ring Road project.
The petition was also addressed to , President of the Senate, and , Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Engineers Missing Since 2021 Road Project
According to the petition filed by their lawyers, , the engineers were employees of and were abducted in November 2021 while working on the Abakaliki Ring Road project.
The missing engineers were identified as:
- Nelson Onyemeh
- Ernest Edeani
- Ikechukwu Ejiofor
- Samuel Aneke
- Stanley Nwazulum
The project was reportedly funded by the .
Families Describe Years of Trauma
In the petition, the wives described the emotional trauma they have endured for nearly five years without knowing the fate of their husbands.
They explained that their children have continued to ask questions about their fathers’ whereabouts, forcing the families to live with constant uncertainty.
“Your excellencies, you need to ponder on the psychological trauma and endless lies to the kids about the whereabouts of their fathers,” the petition stated.
Allegations of Investigation Setbacks
The families also raised concerns about alleged setbacks in the investigation process.
They claimed that the officer handling the case at the was suddenly removed during the investigation and that his laptop was confiscated by the agency.
According to the petitioners, the development raised fears that the case might not receive the attention it deserves.
Call for Federal Government Intervention
The women urged the Federal Government to compel the and other security agencies to intensify efforts to locate the missing engineers and prosecute those responsible.
They warned that continued government inaction could force the affected families to stage public protests to demand justice.
The petition emphasised that the Nigerian government has a constitutional duty to protect citizens and ensure justice for victims of crimes.
Warning of Possible Protests
The families said they may embark on sustained demonstrations if authorities fail to act swiftly.
They also appealed for a full-scale investigation into the disappearance of the engineers, stressing that the victims were breadwinners whose absence has left their families in hardship.
