Barrister Kevin Okorie, a lawyer based in Port Harcourt, has been missing for over three months following his alleged invitation to a meeting by the Nigerian Navy on 10th September 2024.
According to information shared by Gloria Worlu on WhatsApp, Okorie was summoned to the Iwofe Aker base in Port Harcourt, but he failed to return home that day.
Worlu’s post stated: “Barr. Kevin Okorie from Ebonyi State, Onitcha Igboeze (apologies if I’ve misspelled), is a member of the NBA. He was invited for a meeting on 10th September 2024 by the Navy at Iwofe Aker base, but he didn’t come back that day. On the 11th, he called his wife to say he was returning home with some naval officials, but he never arrived. When his wife attempted to call him, his phone was unavailable by the end of the day.
“On the 12th, his wife went to the naval office herself, where they told her to report his disappearance to the police. She refused, insisting her husband had informed her he was in their custody.
“She was sent away, only for Okorie to call using a naval officer’s phone to confirm he was being held by the Navy. She brought him food and spoke to him that same day, but was not permitted to see him; the conversation took place from an unknown office or cell.
“This situation continued until his community wrote to the NBA, informing them that their son was in naval custody. Two weeks later, human rights advocates and several NBA members visited the naval base, but were told he was not present.
“Subsequently, human rights representatives invited his wife to accompany them back to the naval base. Upon arrival, they instructed her to return on a Monday, but she protested, stating that her husband had been detained for three weeks and should be charged in court if he had committed any crime. They denied any record of him.
“The wife questioned, ‘Who was the person I spoke to and who received food from me twice in this same place? Who ate that food?’ At that moment, Mr Eko, using the phone number 08035362486, admitted Barrister Kevin had been moved to Abuja without any stated charges. He instructed her to call him for further information regarding his relocation.
“When she called as directed, Mr Eko merely confirmed that he had been transferred to Abuja – that was all he knew. Since 10th September, there has been no information about his whereabouts up to today, 26th December 2024.
“The community from which he hails has petitioned the NBA for assistance in locating their son. His wife continues to visit the naval office regularly, while their children are left in distress, crying for their father.
“The wife suffers from partial blindness, managing her condition for several months. Barrister Kevin is the family’s main source of support, and no one knows if he is dead or alive. The only clue remains the naval base at Iwofe, Port Harcourt.”
