In a disturbing turn of events, 35-year-old Chibueze Isizoh has been missing since July 23 after his arrest by the Special Anti-touting Squad Anambra (SASA), a state-backed vigilance group. Accused of stealing a car battery, Isizoh’s disappearance has left his family in anguish, as their search for answers continues to meet dead ends.
Isizoh, a resident of Osile Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area (LGA), was detained at SASA’s uncompleted office near Onitsha ShopRite, according to his brother, Izuchukwu. FIJ confirmed that a family member, who is a police officer, initially located him at this facility. However, weeks later, conflicting accounts from SASA officials and police stations have deepened the mystery surrounding his whereabouts.
“For two weeks, we didn’t know where he was,” Izuchukwu told FIJ.NG. “The SASA officials who arrested him didn’t let him speak to us. When he finally got access to a phone, he called my mother and said he was being held near ShopRite.”
When Isizoh’s in-law, Matthias Bassey, a police officer, visited the facility, he found and interacted with him. Bassey even provided food and water, promising to return with clothes in a few days. However, when he came back, SASA officials claimed Isizoh had been transferred to the Awka Police Station.
This marked the beginning of conflicting narratives. At Awka Police Station, officers denied having Isizoh in their custody, even after the family shared SASA’s claims. Meanwhile, SASA introduced a new twist, stating that two batches of suspects had been transferred on the same day—one to Awka Police Station and the other to the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Awkuzu, notorious for extrajudicial killings.
The family’s search extended to Awka and Onitsha correctional centers, where prison officials confirmed that Isizoh was not in their records. Visits to the Anambra State Police Command’s State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) and even Awkuzu SARS yielded no information about his detention.
Despite their frustration, Isizoh’s family remains focused on finding him, whether he is alive or dead. “We are not against him facing the law if he committed a crime, but we deserve to know where he is and provide him with the support he needs,” Izuchukwu said.
The family’s distress is compounded by the uncertainty surrounding his fate. “My mother is deeply troubled,” he added. “We just want to know if my brother is alive or if something terrible has happened to him.”
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According to FIJ, they reached out to Chidi Nwachukwu, the SASA officer who allegedly supervised Isizoh’s transfer, he did not respond to calls or messages. Similarly, Ikenganyia Anthony, the spokesperson for the Anambra police, said he had no information about the case.
As the family’s search for answers continues, the lack of accountability from authorities underscores the troubling state of local law enforcement and vigilance operations in Anambra State.
