Man alleges brother was kidnapped, killed for aiding security agencies

A resident of Imo State, Chukwunonso Okolie, has shared a harrowing account of how his brother was allegedly abducted and killed by suspected bandits after being accused of collaborating with government authorities to expose criminal activities.

Okolie, an indigene of the Ihitenansa community, made the revelation during an interview with News Central TV, where he recounted the events surrounding his brother’s abduction in 2023.

According to him, his brother was kidnapped by armed men and killed five days later despite the family’s hopes that he would regain his freedom.

He alleged that the incident took a more disturbing turn after he discovered that one of the suspected kidnappers was a man from their community, identified as Odumodu.

Seeking answers, Okolie said he obtained the suspect’s phone number and confronted him over the telephone, demanding to know why his brother had been targeted.

According to Okolie, the suspect claimed that his brother was abducted because he was allegedly working with government authorities to facilitate the arrest of members of the criminal group.

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“I called him and asked him what my brother did that you and your group kidnapped him. He said my brother was planning with the government on how to capture him,” Okolie recounted during the interview.

He further disclosed that he pleaded with the suspect to at least release his brother’s body so the family could give him a proper burial in accordance with their customs.

However, he alleged that the request was rejected. Instead, the suspect reportedly refused to disclose the whereabouts of the body and allegedly threatened to kill him as well if he continued making inquiries.

The emotional account has renewed concerns over the security situation in parts of the country, particularly the dangers faced by individuals perceived to be assisting security agencies in combating criminal groups.

The allegations have also triggered widespread reactions on social media, with many Nigerians expressing grief and calling on security agencies to thoroughly investigate the claims, identify those responsible, and ensure they are brought to justice.

As of the time of filing this report, security authorities had not publicly commented on the specific allegations contained in the interview, and the claims remain those of the interviewee.