A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, identified as Yahaya Faruk, has mysteriously disappeared in Ikuru Town, Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he was deployed for his compulsory one year national service.
The corps member who was deployed at the Community Secondary School, Ikuru Town as his place of primary assignment, later took up a casual job as a night watch in a Chinese Company, known as LDM Mining Company, operating in Ikuru Town, from where he disappeared without a trace after resuming for duty around 4pm on Monday, October 14, 2024.
It was learnt that the disappearance of Faruk came to light after the principal of Community Secondary School, Ikuru Town, Mr. Anderson Awaji Ogbana, reported the development to the Ngo Divisional Police Headquarters on October 15, 2024, stating that Faruk could not be located within the school premises or the surrounding community.
Public Relations Officer for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, in an exclusive telephone interview said the police following the disappearance of the serving corps member had intensified a multipronged search for missing corps in a bid to locate and reunite him with his family.
SP Iringe-Koko stated that the Police had in the course of investigation uncovered vital information that would help in solving the case, but could not disclose much for fear of jeopardising the ongoing investigation.
Iringe-Koko said: “We are still investigating, getting credible information to that effect.
“We cannot disclose our investigation to members of the public, that will jeopardise the investigation, but we have uncovered a lot of vital information in the matter.”
Earlier, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Mustapha Bala, had ordered a full scale investigation into the incident, as the site manager of the Chinese company, Mr. Lai Ding Chi, had been summoned for questioning.
This was as the spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, revealed that the company’s site manager of the company the corps member worked before his disappearance, Mr. Lai Ding Chi, said he last saw Faruk after two unidentified individuals entered the site with a motorcycle and he abandoned his duty post and left with them.
Iringe-Koko noted that the matter has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).
She added: “On October 16, 2024, he was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), where he admitted to employing Mr. Faruk as a casual worker on the night shift, from 4:00 PM to midnight.
“However, Mr. Wen stated that he was unaware of Mr. Faruk’s status as a serving corps member.
“Further inquiries were conducted with the site manager, Mr. Lai Ding Chi, who disclosed that on the evening of October 14, 2024, between 9:00 and 10:00 PM, two unidentified individuals arrived on a motorcycle, after which Mr. Faruk left his duty post and accompanied them.”
The police said several colleagues of the missing corps member had been invited for questioning, adding that they all denied involvement in the disappearance of Faruk.
“In addition, several other individuals who worked alongside Mr. Faruk during the same shift – Joseph Godstime, Levi Stephen, Ejit-Awaji Michael, and Ishmael Jireh – have also been questioned under caution, all of whom denied any involvement in the disappearance.
“On October 18, 2024, the Commissioner of Police personally interviewed all parties involved.
“The Command has adopted a multi-pronged approach, utilizing advanced technology to expedite the search for Mr. Faruk. In addition, officers from the State CID have been directed to collaborate with the Community Development Committee (CDC) and other key stakeholders in Ikuru Town, with the aim of strengthening local efforts to locate the missing corps member.”
When contacted by our Correspondent for any update on Friday, the Chief Press Secretary of Andoni Local Government Area, Chief Ntedeng Timothy, said the council and the good people of the LGA, are awaiting the conclusion of the police investigation.
Meanwhile, the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, Edo Central Area, has expressed anxiety and devastation over the sudden disappearance of Mr. Yahaya Faruk, who is their brother. (Saturday Independent)
