Where is Omunagbe Owolabi…?

Edo family demands whereabouts of son, nine months after disappearance

The family of Damasus from Ososo in Akoko-Edo Local Council of Edo State is lamenting and groaning over the disappearance of their son, Omunagbe Owolabi, an engineer.

The family said Owolabi, who worked with Charkin Maritime Safety Company in Port Harcourt, had gone missing since Sunday, May 17, 2015.

The family alleged that the police have not also done a good job in the investigation as suspected persons believed to be involved in the disappearance of their son were let off the hook.

In a petition to the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, the family wants the police to re-open investigation into the disappearance said to have happened on Sunday, May 17, 2015.

The petition signed by Rev Fr. Ignatus Omunagbe, Solomon Taiwo and Segun Vincent Okoro on behalf of the family, said their ward was said to have driven out of his company’s premises where he also resided with his official vehicle, a Toyota Corolla Car marked SMK847BB, Chassis Number AHTLC58E103028635 and Engine Number 2ZRU456201 (2012 model) metallic colour attached to him.

The family said one of his colleagues also resident in the premises, claimed to have seen him leave the premises on the fateful day with his barbing kit bag and moving towards the direction of a barbing saloon where on weekly basis he would have his hair cut.

“Consequently, this information from the colleague was later confirmed when his close friend, one Mr. Ahmed, an employee of FMC Technologies resident in Port Harcourt told the family that his friend, Damascus called him on May 17, 2015 that he was coming to his house for them to go and have their hair cut as usual. Mr. Ahmed told Omunagbe that he had had his hair cut for the week but he would expect him after cutting his hair. Omunagbe after cutting his hair visited Mr. Ahmed and relaxed there for some time.

“The said Mr. Ahmed called Omunagbe’s wife in the morning of May 18, 2015 to inform her that though her husband visited him the previous day, he had not been able to reach him on his usual line. The said Ahmed added that though the battery of Omunagbe’s phone was low as at the time he visited him, that he tried to help him charge the phone, but his charger was not compatible with his phone. But we find it very difficult to believe this story because Omunagbe lives in the company’s quarters with an uninterrupted power supply.

Mr. Ahmed also told Omunagbe’s wife that her husband left his house at about 7.00p.m. saying that if time permitted him, he would visit his in-law (Mr. Agwoko Jude), who also lives in Port Harcourt.

“Omunagbe’s wife, Carol, raised alarm and informed members of the family, who immediately swung into action and reported the matter at the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Rivers State Police Command, Mini Okoro on Tuesday, May 19, 2015.”

The petition to the police boss said their son’s wife later revealed to them that her husband told her of constant threat from a co-worker. She said her husband told her that the said worker had threatened him that he would frustrate him out of the company, same way he frustrated her husband’s former boss out of the company.