In Anambra: Father Cries Out as Son Vanishes During Vigilante Operation, Police, AVG Remain Silent

A distraught Nigerian father, Chief Benjamin Nwosu, has publicly called out the Anambra State Vigilante Group (AVG) and the Anambra State Police Command over the mysterious disappearance of his son, Ekene Valentine Benjamin, during a 2024 security operation in Anambra State.

Ekene, a vigilante operative working with the AVG for over three years, reportedly went missing on August 9, 2024, during a joint anti-gunmen operation in Ukpo, Anambra. Since then, his family has received no answers — only denials, silence, and evasion.

The Disappearance

According to Chief Nwosu, the last time he spoke with Ekene was the morning of the operation. A week later, he called Chidera, a colleague who had introduced Ekene to the AVG, and was told the team had returned from the operation — but Ekene did not.

“I was told he went on assignment with others, but only they came back. I went to Ukpo and met the AVG commander, ‘Mr. White,’ and later their General Commandant, Chief Chinenye Ihenko aka Okpompi. No one had real answers,” Nwosu said.

Despite multiple visits and a petition to the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Nwosu says the matter has been met with indifference. Though a DCP assigned the case and directed the IPO to summon the commanders, only a liaison officer appeared — and even then, no investigation followed.

Official Silence, Hostile Responses

When contacted by Reporters, AVG boss Okpompi confirmed Ekene went missing during the operation but made no apologies and offered no commitment to finding him.

Instead, Okpompi accused Chief Nwosu of being “unwise” for petitioning the police, stating:

“We don’t know if he was killed or joined the gunmen… He’s our blood. He entered the covenant with us. The governor is aware. He should calm down or go to Abuja or heaven.”

The statement shocked many human rights observers, who said it raises deeper questions about the structure, accountability, and legality of AVG operations.

Police Fail to Follow Up

Repeated attempts by journalists to get an update from Anambra Police Spokesperson SP Tochukwu Ikenga were met with vague promises like “I will escalate this,” but no formal report or action has emerged nearly a year later.

Despite the AVG admitting the disappearance occurred under their watch, no search, no apology, and no closure has been offered.