An emotionally distraught woman, Mrs Chigozie Akamnonu, has petitioned the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, over the sudden disappearance of her husband, Reverend Pastor Eric Akamnonu, a native of Ndiakunwata-Uno, Arondizuogu in Ideato North Local Council of Imo State.

Akamnonu was declared missing on Monday, February 24, when he did not return to his base in Aba, Abia State, after visiting his family in Ndiakunwata-Uno, Arondizuogu, to inspect a piece of land on behalf of his American-based elder brother, Mazi Cyprian Chukwuemeka Akamnonu.

According to Mrs Akamnonu, the cleric left Aba for Arondizuogu on Sunday, February 23, on the advice of Mazi Cyprian to the village. He met one Mazi Ebere Onyenucheya, who informed his brother about an available piece of land for sale. He was to inspect and negotiate the land deal on his brother’s behalf.

Mrs Akamnonu stated that her husband arrived at their country home safely, passed the night and left in the morning to meet Mazi Onyenucheya. She added that he later proceeded to the home of one Mr Umualaoma, whose brother owns the land for inspection and negotiation as directed by his brother.

She further said that her husband’s telephone was accessible on the morning of February 24 as he spoke to one of her (Mrs Akomnonu’s) business clients, who wanted to speak with his wife through his telephone line that morning concerning a wedding catering arrangement.

But the Pastor informed her (the client) that he was in his village in Arondizuogu and advised her to call his wife’s direct line and discuss with her. He could not be reached again as his phone was switched off.

The wife said she became worried when she contacted her husband’s brothers in Arondizuogu to know if he was still in the village as he could not be reached on his line. She said she was shocked and was gripped with fear following their claims that her husband left the village for Aba the previous day, Monday, February 24.

“I was instantly panic-stricken when conflicting narratives began to emerge about exactly when my husband left the village for Aba on Monday, February 24, 2025, and had not arrived in Aba. All efforts to trace his whereabouts have been unsuccessful,” she lamented. The woman said it had been more than a month since they couldn’t trace the whereabouts of her husband.

“I am traumatised day and night. l fear for his life. Whoever is holding him should please release him alive. He is a man of high moral standing and does not get involved in any controversy.

“I wonder why anyone should think or plan any evil against him. I speak with a heart laden with grief and fervent prayer, pleading for the intervention of the police and DSS. And I am trusting God for his return alive,” Akamnonu added.

In the petition, which was submitted to the Imo State Commissioner of Police through Akamnonu’s family Attorney, A.O. Amagwula and Co., Mrs Akanmonu appealed for his intervention to unravel the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the father of five.

The family lawyer, Arinzechukwu Nwaudo, of A.O. Nwaudo & Co. Law Chambers, who confirmed the petition to the Imo State Commissioner of Police, also said that a similar petition on the matter had been submitted to the office of the Director, Department of State Security Services in Owerri, Imo State.

We have taken the necessary steps to involve the police and the DSS in a concerted effort to locate the whereabouts of the husband of our client and rescue him alive.

“The narratives about the missing Pastor Akamnonu raise strong suspicions of evil conspiracy, not ruling out kidnap. We have confidence in the ability of the law enforcement agencies to unknot the mysteries surrounding the development,” he said.

When contacted, the spokesperson for Imo State Police Command, DSP Henry Okoye, acknowledged the petition. He disclosed that the Commissioner had directed competent officers to investigate the incident and earnestly unravel the pastor’s whereabouts. Okoye reiterated the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property in the state.