Enugu, Nigeria – Amnesty International has expressed deep concern over the abduction and continued disappearance of Mr. Sunday Ifedi and his wife, Calista, allegedly taken by Nigerian security agents in Enugu on November 23, 2021. The couple was reportedly arrested over suspicions of being members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), yet all efforts by their family and legal representatives to determine their whereabouts have been unsuccessful.
In a statement, Amnesty International called on the Nigerian government to either release the couple immediately and unconditionally or charge them in court. The rights organization warned that their prolonged and secret detention raises serious concerns about the risk of torture and other forms of ill-treatment, a violation of international human rights laws.
Since 2016, Amnesty International has documented hundreds of cases of arbitrary detention in the Southeast, alongside reports of individuals disappearing after being taken into custody by security forces. The group has repeatedly criticized Nigerian authorities for what it describes as a pattern of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and suppression of dissenting voices in the region.
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In previous reports, Amnesty International has exposed the excessive use of force by security agencies against civilians in Nigeria especially in the Southeast, including crackdowns on peaceful protests and mass arrests. The organization has also called for independent investigations into allegations of human rights violations by security forces and the urgent need for accountability.
Human rights activists continue to urge the Nigerian government to uphold constitutional rights, ensure transparency in security operations, and respect due process in handling cases of alleged separatist activities.
Amnesty International reiterated its demand for justice, emphasizing that Nigeria’s authorities must adhere to the rule of law and prevent further cases of unlawful detention and enforced disappearances.
