Lost, But Yet To Be Found

Samuel Nwuzor, a Lance Corporal in the Nigerian Army, curiously, disappeared without trace from his Block 22, Flat 30, Dodan Barracks, Obalende Lagos official residence two years ago, precisely on August 4, 2007. Samuel, Force Number 91NA/32/4180, was recruited into the Nigerian Army in the year 1991. (Picture left shows missing Lance Corporal Nwuzor)

The Lance Corporal’s puzzle-laden disappearance occurred just seven days to his church wedding. And more intriguing, perhaps, is the allegation by the Nwuzor family of Ndi–Uruku community in Abakaliki council area of Ebonyi state that, two years after her son’s disappearance, authorities of the Nigerian Army, particularly, the Obalende Cantonment of the 9 Brigade, Ikeja, where Samuel was, at the time, serving, is yet to come up with an official statement concerning the incident.

Part of the rules and regulations guiding the Nigeria Army prescribes that a soldier should be declared ‘away’ when no evidence exists that he/she is sick or permitted to go off camp, but the army has refused to observe this rule with regards to Samuel’s case.

Dr. Christopher nwuzor, elder brother to the ill-fated Lance Corporal Samuel, laments that his continued disappearance has continued to cause psychological trauma to the family members, especially, his septuagenarian aged parents.

As a last resort, the Nwuzor family engaged the services of a lawyer, Barrister Luke Nkwegbu, to assist in searching out her soldier son. Nkwegbu who has, since, swung into action in the matter, found out that Lance Corporal Samuel left his residence to meet with a fellow soldier named Sergeant John Aggrey.

KlinReports learnt that Sergeant Aggrey had initially admitted knowledge of the whereabouts of Samuel before the Nwuzor family and the Army Public Relations Officer in charge of 9 Brigade Cantonment, Captain Adeniyi. Indeed, Sergeant Aggrey reportedly stated that Samuel was at a village in Cross River state, but demanded a ‘tip’ to take the family delegation to the place. But Aggrey, shortly after, recapitulated and changed his statement, entirely denying knowledge of the Lance Corporal’s whereabouts.

In a petition, dated September 13, 2008, addressed to the Police Inspector-General, and signed by Nkwegbu, the Nwuzor family demanded that Sergeant Aggrey be considered the principal suspect in the sudden disappearance of Samuel.

The petition claimed that telephone conversations revealed that Aggrey remained in contact with Nwuzor before he finally disappeared on the fateful day. The family, also, did a reminder of this petition, dated July 14th, 2009, and copied appropriate authorities, including Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Defense Staff, Director-General, State Security Services (SSS), Minister of Defense, National Security Adviser, as well as Chairman, Senate Committee on Army among others.

Most unfortunately, nothing has yet been heard from these quarters on the curious disappearance of this Nigerian soldier. But the Nwuzor family seems resolved to get to the root of the matter.

The question remains: ‘Where is Lance Corporal Samuel Nwuzor?’ Is he dead or alive?