The community of Ikuru Town in Rivers State’s Andoni Local Government Area has called upon Nigeria’s top security officials—the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Adeola Ajayi—to spearhead a comprehensive investigation into the mysterious disappearance of Yahaya Farouk Umar, a member of the National Youth Service Corps stationed in their town.
Yahaya Farouk Umar had been fulfilling his mandatory service year at a local secondary school in Ikuru Town as part of the NYSC scheme.
In addition to his teaching assignment, he had recently secured part-time employment with a Chinese-operated mining company, LDM Mining Company Limited, which also operates within the region.
However, concerns arose in late October after Umar was reported missing. The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria sounded the alarm, revealing that Umar vanished on Monday, October 14, 2024.
In an official statement released from Port Harcourt, Ikuru Town community leaders voiced distress over the incident.
Signed by the Secretary of Ikuru Town Council, Friday Paul Amamino, the statement expressed unease about potential interference in the investigation.
The community alleged that certain influential figures might be trying to sway the security officers involved, a move they believe is undermining justice in Umar’s case.
The community explained that the corps member’s disappearance has cast a pall over Ikuru Town, with fears that some individuals might be exploiting the tragedy to settle political scores.
These individuals, the community claims, are “concealing the truth, changing the narrative, diverting attention, misleading the unsuspecting public, and impeding justice.”
They further noted that there may be efforts to implicate perceived opponents, thus distorting the case’s actual facts.
Pledging their resolve, Ikuru Town leaders emphasized that they will not allow anyone, regardless of their influence, to hinder the investigation.
They urged the top security officials to ensure justice and maintain integrity in the investigation, stressing that every effort should be made to reveal the truth and locate Umar.
The incident, they reiterated, has “sent shock waves through the community,” and they are committed to supporting any initiative that will uncover what truly happened to the missing corps member.
