Tension is rising in Nnewi, Anambra State, as the family of Mr Daniel Ikwo has accused the local vigilante group, Udogachi, of illegally detaining him, his pregnant wife, and their two young children for over 20 days without charge.
The family, through their lawyer Chijioke Onwe, submitted a formal petition to the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ikioye Orutugu, asking for urgent intervention in the matter. According to the petition, the security group stormed the family’s home in the early hours of May 30, 2025, and took Daniel, his wife Cynthia, and their two children, Chizaram aged four, and Chidiogo, who is just two years old.
Relatives said that after several failed efforts to locate the family, they were finally allowed to see Cynthia and the children at the Udogachi base on June 18. However, they were not allowed to get close to them, and Daniel was not brought out.
“We returned the next day with our lawyers as instructed, but we were still not allowed to see them,” the petition stated.
The lawyer warned that keeping a heavily pregnant woman and two toddlers in detention without clear reason is not only unlawful but also dangerous.
“We respectfully urge your office to investigate this matter immediately and ensure their safe release,” the lawyer wrote.
Daniel’s brother-in-law, Nwali Chinedu, told Sunday PUNCH that the family is still in shock.
“The woman is my sister. They were taken on May 30, and we still do not know why. Even if the man was accused of something, what could the children and a pregnant woman have done to deserve this?” he asked.
When contacted for an update, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, promised to look into the matter quickly.
“I will escalate it to the leadership of Udogachi for necessary action if such a case exists in their records,” he said.
Meanwhile, efforts to reach the Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Community Security, Ken Emeakayi, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls or messages.
However, the state Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, in a brief reply said, “Advise such people to go to court.”
