Umahi Responds to Protest Over Slain NELAN Engineers, Says Suspects Arrested and Case Still in Court
By Onwe Wisdom, Pan Afric Reporters
Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi has reacted to a protest staged by relatives and sympathizers of slain engineers from NELAN Consulting Engineers, insisting that the Ebonyi State government under his leadership took swift action after the tragic incident and that the matter remains before the court.
In a statement issued on Monday, 16th March by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, the minister acknowledged the deep pain of the bereaved families but clarified that the engineers’ deaths occurred on November 3, 2021, during the violent communal crisis between Effium and Ezza Effium communities in Ebonyi State.
The statement explained that the disappearance and subsequent killing of the engineers took place at the height of the deadly communal conflict that claimed several lives and destroyed properties across the affected communities.
According to the minister’s office, Umahi, who was governor of Ebonyi State at the time, responded immediately after receiving reports of the incident by mobilizing security agencies to launch an intensive search and investigation aimed at locating the missing engineers and apprehending those responsible.
The statement further disclosed that the former governor personally visited the incident location alongside security operatives and directly supervised the search efforts.
“These efforts led to the arrest of individuals involved in the dastardly act. Those arrested confessed to committing the crime and have remained in custody since then,” the statement noted.
It added that the suspects were handed over to the appropriate authorities and that the case is still undergoing judicial proceedings, even after Umahi left office as governor.
The minister’s office emphasized that the Ebonyi State government under Umahi did not abandon the case or suppress the matter, stressing that investigative actions were promptly taken and suspects were charged before the court.
While expressing sympathy to the families of the deceased engineers, the minister urged that public discussions around the tragic incident be guided by facts and respect for the ongoing judicial process.
Umahi also reiterated his commitment to justice, truth and the rule of law, while offering prayers for the repose of the souls of the deceased and strength for their grieving families.
The statement was signed by Nwaze and dated March 16, 2026.
