Four Years After Disappearance, Families of NELAN Engineers Plan Abuja Demonstration

Families and supporters of five engineers who disappeared in Ebonyi State in 2021 say they will stage a peaceful protest in Abuja on Monday, March 16, 2026, demanding justice and the release of the victims’ remains.

The protest is scheduled to take place at the National Assembly grounds between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Organisers say the demonstration will focus on the unresolved deaths of the engineers widely known as the “NELAN Five.”

Members of the Ihiala community and other supporters are leading the mobilisation. They say the engineers were allegedly killed in Ebonyi State during the tenure of Dave Umahi as governor. Umahi currently serves as Nigeria’s Minister of Works.

More than four years after the incident, the bodies of the engineers have not been recovered.

In a notice circulated ahead of the protest, organisers called on Ihiala indigenes living in Abuja and nearby areas to participate in the demonstration. The protest will be led by Engineer Nelson Onyemeh.

Participants are expected to gather at the National Assembly grounds to call on the Ebonyi State government and relevant authorities to explain the circumstances surrounding the deaths and release the victims’ bodies to their families.

Organisers said the protest will be peaceful and held in compliance with the law, noting that police authorities have granted permission for the gathering to take place at a single location.

Transport arrangements have also been made to assist participants traveling from different parts of the Federal Capital Territory. Buses will depart at 7:00 a.m. from designated locations including Apo Mechanics, Under Karu Bridge, Dei-Dei Pedestrian Bridge and Lugbe Bridge. Breakfast will be provided for attendees.

The planned protest comes amid fresh claims about the circumstances surrounding the engineers’ disappearance.

Tracking records reviewed by journalists reportedly show that a suspected kidnapper known as “Small” had repeated phone contact with individuals connected to the Abakaliki Ring Road project in Ebonyi State before the engineers went missing.

The project was initiated during Umahi’s administration as governor.

Family sources say phone triangulation and call records indicate that “Small” communicated several times with lawyer Chioma Nweze and project coordinator Felix Otta, both linked to the project.

According to the families, the suspect first contacted them shortly after the engineers disappeared. He allegedly demanded money after claiming that one of the engineers had been involved in an accident and required urgent treatment.

The case has remained unresolved, with relatives of the victims continuing to call for a full investigation and accountability.