The Anambra State Police Command has called on the public to assist with any useful information that could aid in locating five individuals who have been declared missing while transiting through the state.
According to reports circulating on social media, the missing persons were traveling from Lagos to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, for a wedding. Human rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu brought the case to wider attention by sharing the complaint of a concerned acquaintance on Facebook. He also posted the names and photographs of the missing individuals, noting that they became unreachable after a brief stopover in Anambra.
The travelers reportedly left Shimawa, Lagos, and were last heard from around 7:00 p.m. when they arrived in Asaba, Delta State, searching for food. An hour later, they resumed their journey and crossed into Anambra State, where they agreed to lodge at a hotel for the night.
Communication with the group ceased around 10:00 p.m. At 6:16 a.m. the following morning, one of the individuals posted a birthday message to his wife via WhatsApp status—the last sign of activity from any of them.
Concern deepened when repeated calls to all five phones went unanswered. One of the phones briefly rang around 10:30 a.m. before also becoming unreachable.
In an official statement released on Thursday, the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed that the command had intercepted the social media report regarding the missing travelers. He urged the original poster and relatives of the missing persons to visit the Police Headquarters in Awka to provide more detailed information to assist with investigations.
Ikenga stated, “The Anambra State Police Command today, May 22, 2025, intercepted a social media publication stating that five persons on transit in Anambra to seek accommodation got missing. The command joins the publisher in seeking useful information for the police and other security agencies to enable them to take necessary action.”
He added that no formal report had been made at any police division in the state before the online publication. Nonetheless, the command remains proactive in assessing the security situation in the state and implementing community-oriented strategies.
Ikenga encouraged members of the public to report any suspicious activity or relevant information to the police directly or through their emergency hotline: 07039194332. He also urged citizens to download the ‘NPF Rescue Me’ mobile app, available on both Android and iOS, for swift emergency assistance.
He concluded by affirming the command’s commitment to maintaining peace and security, noting growing public support in tackling crime, particularly activities that threaten stability on Mondays in the region.
