POLICE ACCUSED OF COMPLICITY IN DISAPPEARANCE OF 13-YRS OLD BOY

The police have been accused of complicity in the disappearance of thirteen-year-old JOEL OZAVESHE ODIMBORO in Ogun State since May this year. OKECHUKWU NWANGUMA, the Executive Director, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, RULAAC, said the boy went missing soon after establishing contact with his father and spending time with him. NWANGUMA disclosed in a statement that JOEL lived with his mother and stepfather, until August 2024 when he was introduced to his biological father, TAIYE ODIMBORO, and went to spend time with him, after which he disappeared. The RULAAC Executive Director said ODIMBORO had promised at the Ajuwon Police Division in Ogun State, that he would produce the child by June 30, 2025, but he failed. Therefore, he called on the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone Two to retrieve the case file and conduct a thorough and impartial investigation on the matter. He also urged the Police Service Commission and the National Human Rights Commission to conduct independently probes into the police handling of case, with a view to sanction any officers found complicit. SEE EXTRACT FROM THE STATEMENT BELOW: Police Complicity and a Disturbing Cover-Up What followed is an even more troubling dimension of this case: police inaction and manipulation. The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 2, Lagos, directed that the case file be transferred from Ogun State to Zone 2 for proper handling. Months later, the file is still being hoarded at the divisional level under dubious excuses such as “lack of signal” and reference to the Commissioner of Police. This deliberate stalling smacks of police complicity. Allegations abound that powerful figures are shielding Mr. Odimboro from scrutiny. Meanwhile, the child remains missing. The failure to promptly publicize the disappearance - despite calls by the family and civil society - only deepens suspicions of foul play. The father’s refusal to assist in tracing the child raises the darkest fears: that Joel may have been harmed, and that those with influence are aiding a cover-up. What Is at Stake This case is no longer just about Joel. It is about whether the Nigerian police can be trusted to defend the most vulnerable. When the system bends to protect suspects at the expense of victims, justice collapses, and the public loses faith in law enforcement. A missing child should never be subject to bureaucratic delays or political interference. Each passing day without credible investigation puts Joel’s life at greater risk and compounds the trauma of his family. The Way Forward This case calls for urgent action on several fronts: - The AIG, Zone 2 must enforce his directive without further delay, ensure the case file is retrieved, and conduct a thorough and impartial investigation. - The Police Service Commission (PSC) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) should independently probe the handling of this case and sanction any officers found complicit. - Civil society and the media must keep this case alive in public consciousness to prevent it from being buried by delay and complicity. Nigeria cannot claim to protect children if those responsible for their safety treat their disappearance with such levity. Joel’s case is a test of the state’s commitment to child rights and justice. It is a test the police cannot afford to fail. Until Joel is found and the truth is revealed, we must not relent. Silence and delay only embolden impunity. Okechukwu Nwanguma Executive Director, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC)