Ekene Anthony Akabuike

2004

Awka, Anambra State.

Ekene Anthony Akabuike, 24, was a final year undergraduate student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University. The new school session which was to be his last had just resumed. He had just returned, paid for a new apartment on campus, and was to move in two days. 

On the night of that day June 2nd 2004, his friend Chinedu, a son to the landlord and his girlfriend—and another friend whose name was Osita, passed the night in Ekene’s house. The following morning, SARS officials broke into the house, killed Chinedu instantly and arrested Ekene, Osita and Chinedu’s girlfriend. Osita and Chinedu’s girlfriend were granted bail, but Ekene was never seen again by his family.

Ekene’s elder brother, Obiora told POBIN project that the family had gotten to hear of the news of their son’s arrest at around 1pm on the day it happened and immediately swung into action to secure his release, but they were resisted from seeing their son by SARS officials. 

Later, Osita was released and when asked of Ekene, he narrated to them that Ekene had been killed. According to Osita, when they got to SARS custody, they were separated and taken to different places. Osita narrated how shortly, he heard gunshots from close range and the cries of dying people. Since then, the family is yet to see their son and have for about 17 years continued to probe, but have neither gotten any answer nor justice.