Family of four detained incommunicado, properties confiscated by police

Stanley Ihedigbo

Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has raised concerns over the alleged gross abuse of police powers and violation of human rights in the arrest and detention of a family in Abia State. Mrs. Chioma Chikadibia reported that her husband, Mr. Chikadibia Sunday, and their three daughters were arrested and kidnapped by police officers on April 12, 2025.

Her husband Mr. Chikadibia Sunday and their three daughters namely, Miss Sunday Glory, Miss Chikadibia Ngozi Goodness and Miss Chikadibia Ogechi Gift.

According to the Executive Director of the group, Okechukwu Nwanguma, the family was arrested at their home in Alaukwu village, Osisioma Ngwa LGA, Abia State, without disclosure of the reason for their arrest.

The police officers took away household property and money during the operation.

The family has been detained for over three weeks without access to their loved ones or legal representation.

Mrs Chioma Chikadibia said the policemen did not disclose their identity or the reason for their actions.

In the words of one of the daughters, ‘They were fully armed, they are 5 in number, they were not in uniform, they came with two vehicles: one Hilux and one Sienna, they said go to Glory’s room and search, where is Ikenna’s, they broke the door of his room, collect all the properties inside his room and some money, they came to my Dad room collected his money and some properties, they went to the lobby and carried our big generator my sister’s new duvet, shovel and two Cutlass’.

‘They said my mother has not started crying and that this is the beginning’.

On how one of the daughters, Ngozi Chikadibia was arrested, her neighbour at her shop revealed that someone called Ngozi through an unknown number and asked her to come and carry some goods. ‘That was how she was kidnapped, likewise Sunday Glory, even till now their shops are open’.

We were further informed that Gift Chikadibia, a final year student at the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu who returned home for the Easter holiday was also arrested and they have all been dumped and abandoned in detention for three weeks as of date.

The men whom they later discovered were police officers from the ‘Anti−kidnapping Unit, Mopol Base Umuahia’, did not reveal the reason for the arrest of the man and her three daughters and their continued detention incommunicado to date at the ‘Mopol Base’.

Mrs. Chikadibia said the policemen, about five in number, came in 2 vehicles: a white Hilux and a Sierna, heavily armed. During the Gestapo-like operation, the invading operatives took away household properties as well as some money from her husband, Mr Chikadibia.

She said that the family had gone to the base in their desperate efforts to see their detained members but were not granted access to see them or hear from them.

‘We went to see them with a Barrister but they said they were not there’. However a reliable source confirmed to them that they are there, allegedly ‘dumped one side’ and being ‘maltreated’ inside the base.

The distraught woman does not know how her husband and three daughters are fairing and feeding.

She is seriously concerned about their physical well-being and psychological integrity.

RULAAC is alarmed at this information which reveals a gross abuse of police power, abuse of due process and established procedures for arrest, detention and treatment of persons arrested and detained for any alleged offense.

It reveals gross violations of the fundamental human rights of the persons affected.

RULAAC calls on police authorities at both the Abia State Police Command and the Force Headquarters to urgently intervene and ensure prompt and impartial investigation, ensuring accountability and redress.

The organization is alarmed by the alleged abuse of police power and violation of human rights, calling for urgent intervention and investigation.

RULAAC has urged the police authorities to conduct a prompt and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the arrest and detention.

Hold accountable those responsible for any human rights violations and ensure redress for the affected family.