The Abia State Police Command has secretly arraigned a local shoe manufacturer, Mr. Chikadibia Sunday, and his three daughters, Ngozi, Ogechi, and Glory, after holding them incommunicado for over three weeks at the notorious Anti-Kidnapping Unit in Umuahia
The four family members, who were abducted in April in a brazen police operation that involved the illegal invasion and ransacking of their home, have now been remanded at the Aba Correctional Centre without the knowledge or presence of their family or legal representatives.
A source close to the family, who confirmed the shocking development, described it as a cover-up attempt by the police to mask their unprofessional conduct and gross abuse of due process.
“The family just discovered that Mr. Sunday Chikadibia and his three daughters have been secretly charged to court and remanded in Aba Correctional Centre without their knowledge or any opportunity for legal representation,” the source said.
“This is a damage control measure to cover up their unprofessional handling of this case, the lack of transparency and accountability, abuse of due process, and violation of human rights.”
Another source privy to the development said, “The secret nature of their arraignment and court proceedings and the failure to inform the defendants of the charges against them raises questions about the transparency and fairness of the judicial process.
“The fact that the defendants were remanded in custody without an opportunity for legal representation suggests a potential abuse of due process and a violation of their right to a fair trial.
“The situation constitutes a violation of the defendants’ human rights, including their right to liberty, security of the person, and a fair trial.”
The family’s ordeal began on April 12, 2025, when armed officers of the Abia Anti-Kidnapping Unit stormed their residence in Alaukwu village, Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area, without a warrant.
They broke down doors, ransacked the property, and arrested Mr. Sunday along with two of his daughters, Ngozi and Ogechi, who had only just returned home for the Easter holiday.
According to Lilian Chikezie, the eldest daughter who narrowly escaped arrest, the police refused to disclose any reason for the raid or the arrests.
“They broke almost all the doors in our house. After searching, they packed all our properties, even some cash. The issue is that we didn’t know the crime they committed. Even my father was asking them what the problem was, but they didn’t talk,” Lilian told SaharaReporters shortly after.
She later discovered that another sister, Glory, had been picked up by the same operatives after being lured out of her shop at Umuoduma junction.
Despite the family’s frantic efforts to locate them, the police initially denied knowledge of their whereabouts. Multiple visits to police stations across Umuahia yielded no information. Their names were not listed on any station’s arrest log, and officers reportedly refused to provide details.
However, other detainees released from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit confirmed that Mr. Sunday and his daughters were being held separately at the facility. Still, the police continued to deny their detention.
Lilian said her aunt managed to speak briefly with Mr. Sunday, who disclosed they were starving and uninformed about their alleged crime.
“Hunger is killing them, and the police didn’t tell him the offence he committed or his daughters committed. They just dumped them on one side and aren’t even telling them anything,” Lilian said.
She added that the family had been sending money to a policeman for their feeding, even while police authorities continued to feign ignorance of their detention.
The family is now calling on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Police Service Commission to intervene, investigate the actions of the Abia State Anti-Kidnapping Unit, and release Mr Sunday and her three children.