The wife of Pastor Inyang Ayang Ntukoghe, who went missing while travelling with former Minister of Niger Delta, Usani Uguru Usani, has alleged that the former minister has refused to disclose what happened to her husband.
According to Julie Inyang Ayang, Usani has kept her husband’s travelling bag since his disappearance over two years ago.
“For over two years, I am in pain with my children. If he is dead, we should be told,” Julie lamented in an interview with SaharaReporters.
She claimed that Usani sent her a message to stop disturbing him and even threatened her husband’s relations who sought an explanation.
The grieving mother of two expressed frustration over the trauma she and her children had endured, with no information on her husband’s whereabouts.
“My children are suffering, and the one in school, every day I beg people for money for his school fees,” she said, appealing to Nigerians to help uncover her husband’s fate.
Narrating how her husband has gone missing for over two years without a trace, Julie said: “On February 3, 2023, my husband followed the former Minister of Niger Delta, Usani Uguru Usani, whom he described as his political leader, to his village. They were in the same vehicle traveling from Calabar to Nko, Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State, for the burial of Usani’s sister who died, according to what my husband told me when he was going.”
She noted that later that day, she tried to reach out to her husband on the phone but couldn’t. “I thought maybe the burial place didn’t have network coverage. So, on Saturday, the 4th, a friend of mine called me and asked if my husband had followed Pastor Usani Usani, saying his vehicle was attacked. So, all I could do was run to Usani’s house in Calabar, unfortunately, he was not there.
“I met the gatemen, and they told me that he wasn’t around, that he was at Nko, so I think they put a call across to him, and he called me. I asked him, ‘Where is my husband?’ He said, ‘Madam, don’t worry, it was me they were looking for, but they picked your husband.’ He said what happened was that some people came out from the bush on their way and shot at his car. I was told they were eight in number. I don’t know him (Usani), and I have never met him apart from my husband who always goes to him as his political leader.”
She noted that the former minister, apart from what he said on the telephone about being attacked, hasn’t till date told her or her husband’s family what happened and how it happened.
Julie explained that there was so much information that she didn’t know what to believe, and Usani also refused to tell them what happened.
According to her, “I was told that they were eight who were abducted, and only my husband alone didn’t come back. The rest of the people came back. Two of them came to my house, and I was assured that my husband would return. Usani, on his own part, up till today, hasn’t called me to tell me what happened to my husband. Each time I call him, he won’t take the call, and the funniest part of it is that my husband’s travelling bag is still with him.
“My husband’s people even invited him to come and explain what happened to their son, and up till today, he didn’t show up. Instead, he reportedly threatened one of the leaders who gave him the letter of invitation, and that was how my husband’s people didn’t get back to me – everybody was like they didn’t want trouble.
“All this while, I have not been well; I have been sick because I was so traumatised. I cannot sit down like this since. I don’t have anyone to help me. I want Usani to come out and tell the whole world what happened to my husband and why his traveling bag is still with him for more than two years. My children are suffering, and the one in school, every day, I beg people for money for his school fees. It’s not all about the money but the responsibilities my husband would have helped me with. I am just a civil servant in the state, and how much am I paid? Apart from that, how can I sit down and keep quiet for my husband to just go like that?
“Usani is in Abuja, and when he comes to Calabar, he cannot even look for me and explain what happened to my husband. Instead, he gave me a text that I should stop disturbing him so that I won’t erroneously say what he doesn’t know. That’s why I’m crying out.
“Nigerians, please help me uncover the whereabouts of my husband. For over two years, I am in pain with my children. If he is dead, we should be told. Governor Bassey Otu, as the Chief Security Officer of the State, should intervene, and let Pastor Usani come out and tell the whole world what happened to my husband. I have gone to the police and the Department of State Services (DSS), and the security agencies have not said anything. It’s a conspiracy of silence,” she declared.
In a letter to the State Director, Department of State Security Services, Cross River State Command, Calabar, dated May 16, 2023, Mrs. Julie stated that Pastor Usani’s refusal to return her husband’s handbag in his possession and other attitudes “have left me with the belief that something fishy is going on in the whole episode and a premonition of some grievous mishap upon my husband and father of our children.”
When contacted, Usani insisted on a face-to-face meeting before speaking, citing concerns over inaccurate reporting.
He said, “I would like you to see me face-to-face. It’s difficult for me to talk to you because several journalists have talked to me on the phone, and I gave them explanations, but at the end of the day, they reported other things. So, I can only talk to you if I see you face-to-face to be sure that what is said is recorded.”
