- Barrister Kevin Okorie, a native of Onicha Igboeze in Ebonyi State, has been missing since September 10, 2024, following a meeting with the Nigerian Navy at their Iwofe Naval Base in Port Harcourt.
Okorie, a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), was last in contact with his wife on September 11, when he informed her that he would return home with some naval officials. However, he never arrived, and subsequent attempts to reach him failed as his phone became unavailable.
On September 12, Kevin’s wife went to the naval base to inquire about his whereabouts. The officers allegedly directed her to report him as missing to the police, but she refused, insisting that her husband had informed her he was in their custody.
Later, Kevin called her using a naval officer’s phone, confirming he was being held at the base. She brought him food twice but was never allowed to see him directly, as he spoke to her from an undisclosed location within the facility.
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The matter escalated when members of Kevin’s community wrote to the NBA, seeking their intervention. A group of human rights advocates and NBA members visited the naval base two weeks later, but officials denied Kevin was in their custody.
When confronted, a naval officer, Mr. Eko, claimed Kevin had been transferred to Abuja but provided no details about his alleged crime or current location.
Kevin’s wife, partially blind and struggling with her health, has been relentless in seeking answers. She has repeatedly visited the naval office, demanding clarity, but has been met with vague responses and denials. The couple’s children are distressed, asking for their father, who has been their family’s primary support.
Currently, there has been no concrete information about Kevin’s whereabouts. His family and community continue to appeal to the Nigerian Bar Association, human rights organizations, and relevant authorities for assistance in locating him.
The family and community plead with the public, journalists, bloggers, and governmental organizations, including the Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Navy, Ebonyi State Government, and Rivers State Government, to intervene and ensure Kevin Okorie’s safe return.
