By Our Correspondent

National News – Families of five missing engineers in Ebonyi State have renewed calls for a fresh investigation into their disappearance, rejecting claims made by Minister of Works David Umahi.

The engineers, linked to NELAN Consulting, vanished on November 3, 2021, while supervising an African Development Bank-backed ring road project during Umahi’s tenure as governor.

The wives—Patricia Onyemeh, Lovette Edeani, Ifeoma Ejiofor, Esther Aneke, and Mrs Nwazulum—insist the case has been mishandled and demand accountability.

The families argue that the Minister’s explanation, which linked the disappearance to communal unrest, is misleading and unsupported by facts.

According to them, the victims were last seen during official engagements tied to the state project, raising questions about how the incident has been framed.

They say nearly five years after the incident, critical questions about what happened, why it happened, and who is responsible remain unanswered.

They also accused security agencies, including the Department of State Services and Nigeria Police Force, of irregularities in handling the case.

The families alleged that a key investigator was abruptly removed during the probe, despite reportedly uncovering crucial communication evidence.

They questioned who ordered the termination of the investigation and why it was halted prematurely.

Further concerns were raised over the handling of alleged remains presented to the families.

They claim authorities failed to conduct DNA tests and that forensic inconsistencies—such as one set of remains reportedly belonging to a female—undermine the credibility of the findings.

The families also alleged that suspects were hastily charged without conclusive evidence or recovery of bodies, suggesting an attempt to close the case prematurely.

The wives said they have faced intimidation after petitioning top officials, including President Bola Tinubu and National Assembly leaders.

They warned that protests may resume if authorities fail to reopen the investigation, insisting their husbands deserve justice and transparency.