Rights group, family demand release of Enugu man kidnapped over N7,000

The family of Alfred Eme and the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre have demanded for his release after he was allegedly abducted and detained by a police team from Enugu State for months.

This is as the Executive Director of RULAAC, Mr OkechukwuNwanguma, accused the police of weaponising law enforcement through fabricated charges.

Speaking at a news conference in Enugu, on Monday, Nwanguma said abduction-style arrests to extort and intimidate citizens had become commonplace in the police.

The suspect’s brother, Sunday Eme, said police from both the Lagos and Enugu States Commands collected different sums of money from the family.

He also alleged that officers forced Friday to sign a statement written by a senior police officer admitting to financing the Indigenous People of Biafra.

He has since denied the claim, insisting the only money he sent, just over N7000, was payment to a carpenter

Nwanguma described as shocking how officers travelled from Enugu State to abduct Friday in Lagos State, then denied relatives and his lawyer access to him.

“He was held incommunicado for over a month before being charged with bogus offences,” he said.

According to the RULAAC boss, the ordeal began on June 26, 2025 when armed operatives from the Enugu State Anti-Kidnapping Unit stormed Friday’s residence in Lagos and arrested him without a warrant, in front of his wife.

“For days, police denied knowledge of his whereabouts, which Nwanguma called an “enforced disappearance” and a grave violation of constitutional rights.

He added, “Friday was held secretly in Enugu for over a month, denied access to his family or a lawyer.

“One of the most insidious tactics in Nigeria’s law enforcement culture is the use of trumped-up charges.”