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.
Report has it that Opaluwa was abducted by operatives of Police Intelligence Response Team, IRT, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, on August 4, 2024, and has been held incommunicado since then.
It was gathered that at 2p.m., on August 4, 2024, Eleojo Opaluwa got a call and unceremoniously left his family at Mararaba to meet with the presumed caller at a described spot in Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
It was gathered that he was seen by an eye witness who confirmed to his family that he was whisked away by security personnel in their vehicles (one Hilux and a Golf).
The same day, about 5p.m., some security personnel in a Toyota SUV 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 to sources, his family being unaware that he was taken into custody by security operatives, began a frantic search for him.
It was learned that the family made a report at the Mararaba police station of a missing person.
The Police officers at the Mararaba Police Station were said to have informed them to report to the station on August 5, 2024, if he still did not return home.
The family returned to the Mararaba Police Station and were directed to bring Opaluwa picture and other details to enable them declare him missing.
Despite the Opaluwa’s family doing all the police requested of them, the Police officers have 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 were reliably informed that about 2p.m., on August 4, 2024, Opaluwa, who is a staff of NUEE, left his house in Maraba, Nasarawa State, and he has not returned to his home since then.
“It was confirmed that he was whisked away by security personnel in their vehicles (one Hilux and a golf) to an unknown destination.
“We have tried everything possible to reach him on the phone but all to no avail. We visited some police stations at Mararaba 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 hereby 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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