Mrs. Bridget Iwelu, the mother of a
19-year-old student of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Emeka
Shoremekun, has lamented the 15-month abduction of her son.
Iwelu called for the intervention of the
acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, to rescue the
undergraduate, who was abducted on June 6, 2013 in Anambra State.
She recalled that on the fateful day, she
saw her son’s missed call on her mobile phone, adding that when she
called him back, Shoremekun’s line was unreachable and the situation
remained so for three days after which she became worried.
Bridget said, “I got worried that
something was wrong and so I called his girlfriend, Ada, who I had
previously met when I visited Shoremekun in school. I asked her whether
she had seen my son.
“Ada informed me that she was in Lokoja,
Kogi State, as of the time. When she got back to Awka about three hours
later, Ada called, saying that on getting to my son’s hostel, she did
not see him, but saw his cell phone on his bed without the SIM card.”
The worried mother said she went to
Shoremekun’s school the following day in company with her husband,
Michael Iwelu, and his brothers, Augustine and Ayo.
On getting to Shoremekun’s hostel, they
met his roommate, a boy named Felix, who took them to Shoremekun’s best
friend in school, Shedrach. Shedrach, however, told them that he did not
know where Shoremekun was.
Bridget said, “We could not report the
disappearance of my son to the university authorities because academic
activities in the institution were paralysed due to an industrial action
embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, but we
reported the case at the Area C Police Command, Awka, Anambra State.”
Bridget stated further that Ada and
Shedrach were subsequently arrested by the police for interrogation. She
added that the duo was released after making statements.
“However, from that day till October,
2013, there was no clue on the whereabouts of my son. Then in November
2013, an anonymous caller informed my brother- in-law, Ayo Iwelu, on the
telephone that my son was with them, but was ill.
“The anonymous caller said we should send some money in order for them to take care of Shoremekun.
“Throughout December 2013, the anonymous callers neither showed up with my son nor called again.
“In January 2014, my husband and I went
to the Area C Police Command to find out whether there were new
developments, but we were shocked when the police told us that they had
not taken any further step beyond the initial arrest of Ada and
Shadrach,” Bridget said.
In a petition to the Inspector General of
Police, Bridget’s solicitor, Jiti Ogunye, urged the police to commence
proper investigations into the abduction and ensure quick and safe
release of the victim.
The letter reads in part, “Sir, we pray
that you constitute an Inspector-General team to take over this case and
comprehensively investigate same with a view to securing the release
of Mr. Emeka Shoremekun from where he is being held captive.
“Our client reposed so much trust and
confidence in the police which has waned considerably, but could be
revived by a swift action from you.
“Our client is of the view that the power
of the Nigeria Police Force has not been fully utilised in finding her
son. We are hopeful that you will treat this matter with the urgency it
deserves.”
