Janet Eke’s mysterious disappearance for several months running now is said to be causing her, relations and well-wishers a lot of concern at a time the Igbos at home and in the diasporas are mounting pressure on President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to remove the treason charge on MASSOB leader, Chief Ralph Uwazurike and release other detainees amidst fears over their lives.

While over 1,000 members of the organization languishing in police cells and prisons nationwide for alleged treasonable charges, David McDavid, MASSOB's deputy director of information and communication decried the incessant killing of Igbo youths by the police in the name of MASSOB.

Our investigation revealed that the alleged incessant killing of Igbo youths may have facilitated the mass exodus and flight of undisclosed numbers of MASSOB members and activists which include Ms. Janet Eke, MASSOB Aba Youth Leader whose whereabouts has remained unknown to the family and friends up till today. An unconfirmed account said Ms. Eke must have fled the country to an unknown destination to seek asylum.

Our further checks revealed that the MASSOB activist is believed to have abandoned her family and taken to her heels when police and security operatives in the area intensified a massive man-hunt for her arrest after been in there custody for more than three times. This also resulted in the arrest of one Uchenna Mandu, and several others now detained and languishing in jail without trial.

To underscore the importance the Igbos at home and in the diasporas attach to the raging scenario which has created palpable fear and anxiety in the entire Igbo community, a series of meetings are being held in Nigeria and outside the shores of the country. Of recent, Igbo senators met with President Yar'Adua in Aso Rock over some vital issues concerning the South-East region, while the just concluded World Igbo Congress, WIC, in America ruminated extensively on MASSOB members continued detention amidst calls for the release of the Biafran Trojans.

While intense political horse-trading and scheming go on in the midst of uncertainty, one question remains unanswered - Where is Ms. Janet Chibo Eke? Is she dead or alive?

Philip Njoku
Abuja, Nigeria
Email: pnjoku@excite.com

Chief Ralph Uwazuruike (middle) being led into Federal High Court, Abuja., Tuesday, November 9, 2005 to face treason charges.
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