Families Criticize Police Silence Eight Months After Five Officers Go Missing

Eight months after five policemen from the Osun State Command embarked on a special operation in Abia State, their whereabouts remain unknown. The missing officers were part of a six-member team from the Anti-Robbery Unit of the State Criminal Investigations Department dispatched on February 12, 2024, to investigate an armed robbery case. One of the suspects had been tracked to Abia State, prompting the deployment of the team, which included five male officers and one female officer, Adepimpe Ayowole.

According to family accounts, the team lodged in a hotel in Asaba, Delta State, on the night of February 12, 2024, before continuing their journey to Abia the next day. Tragedy struck along the way, as the officers were reportedly ambushed by gunmen. One officer managed to escape, but the remaining five, as well as their civilian driver, have not been seen or heard from since.

Families Left in the Dark

Since the attack, neither the bodies of the missing officers nor their whereabouts have been confirmed, leaving their families devastated and searching for answers. Adekonipekun, the husband of Adebimpe Ayowole, expressed frustration with the police’s handling of the situation. He described how the police provided initial information about the attack but have since been silent, with no updates, visits, or calls from the department.

“My wife Adebimpe, is among the officers who went on the operation. They left Osogbo on February 12, slept in Asaba, and continued their journey on the 13th. I spoke to her around 8 a.m., but since then, I have not been able to reach her. We were told they were attacked,” he explained.

Adekonipekun also revealed that despite efforts to seek information, including a petition from their lawyer, the police have been unresponsive. “The officer who escaped has not been made available for us to meet him. It feels like the police are trying to bury the case,” he added.

Other Families Share Their Ordeal

Funmilola Egundeyi, the wife of another missing officer, Paul Egundeyi, shared a similar account of police indifference. She last spoke to her husband on the morning of February 13, but by 10 a.m., his phone was unreachable. “The deputy commissioner informed us on February 17 that they were attacked. Since then, all I hear is ‘there is no update.’ Life has been unbearable for me and our two children,” she said, urging the police to provide more information about her husband’s fate.

Mrs. Balkisi Durosaro, the wife of another missing officer, Jimoh Fatiu, also expressed frustration with the lack of communication. “I found out about the incident from his brother, who is also a policeman. But since then, the police have not called or visited me. I wasn’t included in the meeting at the police command, and no one has told me what happened to my husband. Life has been challenging, but I believe my husband is alive and will return home to me,” she said.

Police Response

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Osun Command, Mrs. Yemisi Opalola, directed inquiries to the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi. However, Adejobi was unreachable, and messages sent to his phone went unanswered. The lack of communication from the police has only deepened the families’ pain and frustration as they continue to wait for answers about their missing loved ones.

Conclusion

The mysterious disappearance of five policemen on a special operation in Abia State remains unsolved, leaving their families in limbo. The silence from the police authorities and the lack of transparency have fueled concerns that the case may be deliberately ignored. As the families continue to call for justice and clarity, the fate of the missing officers hangs in the balance, casting a shadow over the efforts to address the situation.