Paulinus Okolieidu

2013 – 2014

Azia, Anambra State

Paulinus Okolieidu was a father of 10, freelance journalist and school proprietor who juggled his multiple occupations in order to meet up his numerous responsibilities. Paulinus’ life as it was popularly known in Azia, Ihiala where he was based came to a disruption in 2013 when he was arrested by members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and charged for being a kidnapper. He was not charged to court, and so was not tried or given any fair hearing in the matter. In spite of this, he spent eight months in SARS custody where according to his son, Ifechukwu Thaddeus Okolieidu, he suffered and endured all forms of manipulation and torture.

Mr. Okolieidu was released in 2014 and, embittered over the allegation, his soiled reputation and the trauma of his torture in SARS custody, swore to fight back and prove his innocence. Being a writer, he sought out to write a book detailing his life and an account of the torture he suffered in SARS custody. He finished the book shortly and titled it “The Shame of A Nation.” The book was published, sold impressively and got traction in the media and this led to Mr. Okolieidu being invited to the National Assembly so he could read the story to the Lawmakers in Abuja. 

Amidst Mr. Okolieidu’s frantic attempt to speak up for himself and get justice, he constantly received threat messages from different quarters. According to his son, Thaddeus, “My father was asked to shut up or face the consequences.” But keen on justice, Paulinius did not sidetrack on his mission. He was courageous and hopeful that eventually he would find justice. 

Armed by this courage, Paulinus set out on that morning in June 2014 to the car park at Azia junction where his son Thaddeus dropped him, and he boarded a bus headed to Abuja, to the National Assembly where he had been invited. That morning at the bus stop was the last time Ifechukwu or any of their family members ever saw their father till date. 

Mr. Okolieidu’s disappearance had a terrible devastation on the life of his children, many of whom dropped out of school. The school he ran folded up and his family has suffered the burden of his unexplained absence. 

Before the #EndSARS protests shook the country, they had continued to hope that their father was somewhere in police custody, and would one day be released to them. But through the ongoing judicial hearing, there has been nothing so far to account for his mysterious disappearance.