Nigerian Father Clashes With Anambra Vigilante Group Over Son’s Disappearance During Operation Against Gunmen

Chief Benjamin Nwosu, a resident of Umuokeh in Imo State, has clashed with the Anambra Vigilante Group (AVG) over the disappearance of his son, Ekene Valentine Benjamin, who went missing in August 2024 during an AVG operation in Anambra State.

Speaking with SaharaReporters on the phone, Nwosu said his son has been working with AVG for three years, and that the last time he spoke with him was on August 9, 2024.

He said on August 16, 2024, “I couldn't reach him again. That was when I called Chidera [this Chidera and my son, Ekene were in the same village. He was the one that took my son to Anambra State, and they are working together in AVG].

“Chidera said the commandant in charge of AVG, Ukpo [identified simply as Mr. White] sent Ekene and some team members for an operation. Others came back successfully, but my son didn't come with them.

“I travelled as fast as possible to Anambra State. I got there, met the General Commandant in charge of AVG, Anambra State, Chief Ihenko Chinenye, popularly known as Okpompi. The commandant told me that he was told that my son went with some team members on an errand.”

Nwosu further said, “He didn't say anything meaningful aside from that. He later told me that he didn't know the whereabouts of my son, whether dead or alive.

“Ever since then, I have been searching effortlessly for my son but all efforts proved abortive.

“So on September 20, 2024, I petitioned the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State about the matter. The petition is with the DCP. The DCP ordered the IPO to invite the General Commandant of AVG, and the Commandant at Ukpo.

“The two commandants never honoured the DCP’s invitation, rather we saw a man who said he was the liaison officer.

“The DCP told the IPO to take the statement of the liaison officer. The DCP even told me to go and pray, and that the liaison officer should tell his people (AVG) to go in search of my son, Ekene, whether dead or alive till December.

“Up till now, he is nowhere to be found.”

When SaharaReporters contacted the AVG General Commandant, Okpompi for reaction, he confirmed that Ekene went missing during their operation, during which he said another vigilante member was killed.

Okpompi, however, blamed and berated Nwosu over his approach to the matter, saying that Nwosu only sent one Mr. Okey to his office over the matter, and that he told Okey that the family should calm down as the AVG was still searching for Ekene.

Okpompi, who said that members of the vigilante group who went for the operation with Ekene against gunmen narrowly escaped, said they were not sure if Ekene was killed or captured alive by gunmen or if he decided to join them.

Speaking with SaharaReporters on the phone, Okpompi was visibly angry that Nwosu petitioned the State CID over the matter instead of working only with AVG to search for his missing son.

He said, “That man doesn’t really know anything. If he is wise, he has never one day (come to meet me). It was one Okey he sent to me who met me in my office, and the governor was aware of the operation. It was not a secret. Even one of the military men was lost.

“Tell that man to come back and look for what he wants. If he wants to report to Abuja, let him report to Abuja. What I know is that I didn’t kill his son. We were all on duty and we went for an operation and had casualties. Everyone narrowly escaped.

“After all, another vigilante from Amichi died that day and has been buried. We have not seen the guy (Ekene) till now.”

Okpompi further said, “If he wants to make a case, he can go on and make a case. I am not afraid of it. I am not an unknown gunman. The man is not wise.”

According to him, he told Mr. Okey, who came to his office to calm down, that they were trying to find out what happened to Ekene – to know if he was alive.

“Some of these boys perform magic. It may be possible that he was abducted and he turned around and formed an alliance with those people (gunmen). We went to a battle. It happens everywhere,” Okpompi said.

He added, “I told Okey to give me time but the next thing was that the man petitioned the State CID. The problem is not a hidden problem. The governor is aware of the problem and I don’t have anything to fear. I am not God who gives life. People died during the operation.

“Whatever he wants to do, he should go ahead and do it. Wherever he wants to petition, he should go ahead and petition. He was aware that his son was doing this job. Am I happy over the issue? We have not seen the boy till now.

“When he petitioned the State CID, they asked him what he discussed with us. If his son was a suspect and he reported that AVG was holding his son, it would have been a different case, but this one is that his son is one of us.

“We all entered the same covenant and this happened, is this what the father is supposed to be doing? Whoever is giving him this advice is killing him. If he likes, let him go to heaven and earth, it will still be settled.

“If he is wise, he is supposed to have come to us and we will work together. We have spent so much money to find out whether the boy is alive or dead. Why is he making a noise?

“Why did he go to the State CID? Does it mean we killed our own member? Meanwhile, he has been receiving his salary and we have been giving it to him (the father) since. I don’t even understand what the man is saying.”

He noted that injury to one is an injury to all, and questioned, “Did we go to sleep after the incident? He should not use this condition to intimidate us, that is nonsense!

“We are not happy about it, that we went for an operation and we lost someone and we couldn’t even find his corpse. Is it not an embarrassment? Is it not a slap? 

“Instead of the father to come and join us to search for him, he is there making a noise. His adviser is giving him wrong advice.

“If soldiers go for a war and lose one soldier, will you sue the army?

“The captain who led the operation that day narrowly escaped. It was an unprepared war. Let the man come to our office. Why is he using the police and everything in this case? Police have asked him if he knows what he is saying.

“That man is not wise. His son is our blood because anyone you have a covenant with is already your blood, and he is talking rubbish there. May God forgive him and have mercy on him. I’m not happy about it.

“We wrote officially to the police that we are looking for this person. My office has written an official letter to the commissioner of police. Whatever he is doing now, I don’t know who is pushing him.”