the kidnapped girl’s father pursues justice…
Federal authorities have been urged by the Rivers State Civil Society Organizations to conduct a comprehensive investigation into claims that the Enugu Correctional Facility was breached, enabling a suspected kidnapper to operate freely while in detention and plan additional illegal activities.
Enefaa Georgewill, the group’s chairman, made the call after the Nigeria Correctional Service rejected the claim that a suspect in the facility planned the abduction of a 12-year-old girl in Rivers State from the facility.
The group was taken aback by the Service’s quick rejection of the claims without conducting any further research.
The 12-year-old, Favour Oluwaseyi’s father, claimed to have tracked down the number that demanded ransom from the Enugu Correctional Center after his son was abducted on August 7, 2024, in the Obio Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
According to a prior press briefing, Favour’s father, Ogunsinasi Oluwaseyi, visited the Enugu Correctional Facility with four Rivers State Police Command officers and identified a suspect, Chidiebere Chikezie (also known as Chi-Boy), who was allegedly making video calls while not wearing a prison uniform.
But after, Correctional Service Public Relations Officer Umar Abubakar refuted the allegations, RIVSCO Chairman Enefaa Georgewill said the NCoS’s response was shameful for the country.
He insisted that the NCoS carry out an open and transparent investigation, release the visit register for December 4, 2024, and offer verifiable proof to back up their denial.
Additionally, he urges Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior Affairs, to take the lead in the inquiry and see to it that the guilty are held accountable.
Georgewill accused the Enugu Correctional Facility, saying that Chikezie, committed the crime while in prison.
According to the him, investigation revealed that Chikezie was in detention since 2021 for cultism-related charges and allegedly orchestrated the crime from within the facility.
Georgewill also demanded answers from the officials of the correctional facility about how Chikezie was able to commit the crime while he was in custody, casting doubt on their credibility.
He stated: “We are stating the fact that he committed this crime while incarcerated, not making any claims. We boldly assert this since our shadow investigation revealed that cultism was the charge that led him to the Enugu Correctional Facility.
And based on our information, he had been detained since 2021. From there, he gave the victim’s father access to the account. Whether they released him to commit the crime or if he has a network committing the crime is up to the warders at Enugu Correctional Facility.
“He was in detention during when the crime was committed and we are saying that he is the prime suspect. We are questioning the credibility of the officials of the Enugu Correctional Service. They have a lot of questions to answer, otherwise they should release him to come and answer the questions himself.”
He also insisted that Umar Abubakar, the NCoS spokesperson, be fired for harming the government’s reputation if the accusations turn out to be accurate.
He went on to say: “The Interior Minister should take over right away, and we want the Minister to suggest that the correctional service spokesperson be fired if he is found to be at fault or has gone to the media without conducting his own investigation. “We are equally saying that the Comptroller General of the Correctional Service, should come clean. If he is not the one that instructed the Spokesperson of the Correctional Service to make that statement, and, immediately conduct investigation and distance himself from this accusations otherwise we will be forced to think that he is equally culpable and as such should be sacked.”
Meanwhile, the father of the 12-year-old victim, who has been in captivity for over 8 months, expressed disappointment with the public relations officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Umar Abubakar, for quickly debunking the allegation without a thorough investigation.
Oluwaseyi claims that he and police officers visited the Enugu Correctional Center on December 4, 2024, where he recognized the suspect, Chikezie, also known as Chiboy.
He clarified that Chikezie was not wearing a prison uniform when they arrived at the Correctional Center.
He questioned how an inmate could make video calls and wear a wristwatch that didn’t resemble a prison uniform. By stating that on the 4th of December 2024, I, with four policemen from the Special Operation and Intelligence Unit—a tactical unit attached to Mile 1 Division—visited the Enugu Correctional.”I saw the suspect myself. The suspect did not dress like a prisoner, not in prison uniform, the wrist watch he put on was not that of who is in prison. Even people that have freedom do not use the kind of wrist watch he wore. I expected to see a young man in the prison in Uniform.”How can someone who is an inmate be doing video calls on a steady basis. How do I come to know of this ? Of course, he did the same video call with his wife several times when she was arrested and brought to Port Harcourt. However, the wife was released without cogent reason or a surety,” he said.
Oluwaseyi called for the prosecution of those responsible for the kidnapping of his daughter and demanded justice. He said he hoped his daughter would return safely, especially since it was almost her birthday.
Additionally, the father asserted that he had proof, including photos of the suspect and his spouse, and that the suspect’s wife was freed after being arrested without explanation or assurance.
He continued: “His name is Chidiebere Chikezie, also known as Chiboy, and I have pictures of him and his wife. “I just need my daughter back. What will give me the best joy is for Favour to be released because on Saturday this week will be her birthday and this will be the great joy of the entire family. I want everyone involved in this to be brought to Justice.”
