Crime
Community Leader Uduma Uguru Petitions Abia Governor Over Alleged Kidnap, Torture, Delay in Probe
A community leader from Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State, Hon. Uduma Uguru, has formally petitioned Governor Alex Otti, seeking intervention over what he described as a prolonged delay in the investigation of his alleged abduction, torture, and unlawful detention.
In a letter dated 24 February 2026 and addressed to the Governor at Government House, Umuahia, Uguru detailed his ordeal, alleging that it was carried out by Councillor Eke Daniel Urum alongside a group of youths from Amaekpu Ohafia.
Uguru noted that his latest correspondence followed an earlier petition submitted on 17 November 2025, for which he expressed gratitude to the governor for initiating preliminary intervention. According to him, that intervention resulted in an invitation from the Abia State Command of the Department of State Services (DSS), where he was interviewed concerning the allegations.
He stated that DSS operatives also collected statements from his traditional ruler and other individuals named in the complaint. Uguru further alleged that security personnel accompanied him from Umuahia to Amaekpu Ohafia, where he identified a location he described as a “torture chamber” where he was allegedly held and subjected to inhumane treatment.
The petitioner revealed that his lawyers subsequently lodged a formal complaint before the Assistant Inspector General of Police at the Zone 9 Command Headquarters in Umuahia, outlining the alleged roles of the councillor and his associates. However, he expressed concern that neither the DSS nor the Nigeria Police Force had communicated the outcome of any investigation or commenced prosecution against any suspect.
Uguru argued that the lack of an official report or legal action had created the impression that certain individuals might be shielded from justice, cautioning that such a development could erode public confidence in law enforcement institutions within the state.
He called on the governor to revisit the matter, describing the alleged offences as involving kidnapping, detention, ransom collection, and torture of a citizen within Abia State.
The petitioner also raised concerns over a video recording purportedly depicting his torture, which he claimed has circulated widely on social media since November 2025. He said the continued spread of the footage has caused emotional distress to him and his family, alleging that his wife and children have faced repeated taunts as a result.
Reaffirming his confidence in the state government’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, Uguru appealed for prompt action to ensure justice is served and public trust restored.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the Abia State Government, the DSS, or the Nigeria Police Force regarding the allegations.
