The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has issued a stern ultimatum to the federal government, demanding justice for its members who have been abducted and killed in various parts of the country.
The President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Tasiu Gidari-Wudil, during a press briefing held in Abuja on Thursday, gave the government a strict deadline of 18 days to bring the culprits to book and ensure that justice is served. Failure to do so may result in further action by the NSE.
According to Mr. Gidari-Wudil, the NSE has been constantly receiving reports of the abduction and brutal murder of its members across the country, particularly in the South-East region.
He highlighted the most recent case of Donatus Udeh, who was kidnapped on April 22nd and subsequently murdered.
“Three days later, his mutilated, lifeless body and vehicle were found at different locations within 9th mile corner, Ngwo, Enugu State on April 25. The late Engr. Udeh was, until his demise, the Vice Chairman of the Enugu Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
In a similar way, five Engineers from NELAN Engineering Consulting Limited were abducted on their way to inspect a project site in Ebonyi on Nov. 3, 2021” He shared.
Mr. Gidari-Wudil revealed that five NSE members, namely Nelson Onyemeh, Earnest Edeani, Ikechukwu Ejiofor, Samuel Aneke, and Stanley Nwazulum, had planned to embark on a supervisory visit to the $150 million Abakaliki Ring Road project when they were abducted.
The president stated that one of the executive committee members of the NSE is currently in danger of losing her life simply because she was supervising a project in Ebonyi state.
He expressed disappointment that despite these recurring acts of violence against NSE members, the government has failed to take appropriate action to address the issue.
According to Mr. Gidari-Wudil, the Nigerian government’s primary responsibility, as enshrined in Section 14(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), is to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens.
The engineer saves lives and improves the quality of living by her innovative ideas and inventions.
“The slain engineers were exactly on such patriotic nation-building and economy- stimulating courses when they were cut down. It is an irony that such a breed of humans would be targeted for such brutality without a convincing action by the government to bring the perpetrators to book…Going forward, I hereby make an appeal to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to wade into the matter,” he said.
Mr. Gidari-Wudil implored the President to issue a directive to the Inspector General of Police to conduct a thorough investigation into the abduction and murder of Mr. Udeh in Enugu adding the NSE demanded the reopening of the case involving the five engineers from NELAN Engineering Consulting Limited who were abducted in Ebonyi State in 2021.
He further stated that if the government fails to take action as demanded, he, as the President and Chairman-in-Council of the NSE, will initiate an industrial action to compel the government to address their grievances.