Blessing Chukwuka, a 28-year-old from Enugu State, shares her family’s distressing search for her 19-year-old brother, Samuel Chukwuka, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since July 2022. As the firstborn of six siblings, Blessing has been supporting her mother, who has been the sole caregiver since the death of their father. Samuel, a second-year student at the Institute of Chinese Studies at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, was last heard from when he traveled back to school for his second semester examinations.
After Samuel left for school in the second week of July 2022, his family became concerned when they did not hear from him for a week or two. Despite their attempts to reach him by phone, they were unable to connect. Friends from the university reported seeing him during exams, leading the family to believe he was simply preoccupied with his studies. However, as days passed without any communication from Samuel, panic set in. Just as they were planning to send someone to the university to search for him, they received a call from an unknown number, informing them that Samuel was at the Nnewi Central Vigilante office.
Blessing’s younger sister went to Nnewi to inquire about Samuel. The vigilantes informed her that he had been handed over to the DSS after being rescued from an angry mob. Allegations surfaced that Samuel and some friends had attempted to harm someone, but the vigilantes claimed he was not involved in any wrongdoing. Blessing expressed her disbelief, stating that her brother, who was focused on his education, could not have been involved in such a situation. When the family sought to locate the DSS officer who had taken custody of Samuel, they were advised to return with a lawyer. After doing so, they received the officer’s contact information, but their journey to find Samuel only became more complicated.
Upon contacting the DSS officer, they were told that he was in Abuja and that all individuals handed over to him had been dropped off at the DSS office in Nnewi. However, when the family visited the Nnewi office, they were informed that there was no record of Samuel. Despite providing his identification and photographs, the staff denied any knowledge of him. This contradiction left the family confused and frustrated, as they felt someone was not being truthful about Samuel’s whereabouts. They believed that, regardless of any alleged offense, they had the right to know where he was and to ensure his safety.
The family returned to the vigilantes to inform them of the DSS’s denial, but they were told that the DSS must have done something wrong if they were unable to locate Samuel. The family continued to pursue leads, visiting police stations and other DSS offices, but their efforts yielded no results. Although they considered petitioning the DSS Director-General, their lawyer advised against it, citing the lack of recorded conversations with the DSS officer and vigilantes.
Despite reporting the matter to the Awka Police Divisional Headquarters, the family felt that no action had been taken. Blessing firmly believes that her brother is innocent of the allegations against him, describing him as a sweet and gentle teenager. She expressed concern over the lack of due process, questioning why Samuel had not been taken to court if he was indeed guilty of any crime. The emotional toll on their family has been immense, particularly on their mother, who has struggled to cope since their father’s passing. She has been unable to eat and has sought solace in prayer, hoping for Samuel’s safe return.
Blessing’s plea is for intervention from the Director-General of the DSS, the Inspector-General of Police, and human rights activists. She implores them to help locate her brother, emphasizing that they do not want him to suffer any harm. The family longs to see Samuel, to know that he is alive, and to pursue his case in hopes of proving his innocence.
Comments are closed for this story.