The Director of the Department of State Services in Cross River State, Mrs. Roselyn Izuagbe, has expressed uncertainty over whether Mr. Bassey Akabom, a staff member of the Mortgage Finance department under the state’s Ministry of Housing who disappeared on Friday, February 21, 2025, is currently in their custody.
Speculation has been mounting that Akabom may be secretly detained by the DSS, but the agency has so far declined to confirm or deny these claims.
Speaking to reporters, Mrs. Izuagbe acknowledged the ambiguity, stating, “We have too many people working underground on different operations. Maybe you will just give me some time to find out,” while urging the public to exercise patience.
In a further twist, Akabom’s wife, Mrs. Cynthia Ironbar-Akabom, revealed that her last known contact with her husband confirmed he was in the hands of DSS operatives and under the supervision of two individuals.
Adding weight to this assertion, an unnamed young man has come forward, claiming he shared a detention cell with Akabom at a DSS facility.
He described the civil servant’s worsening health, attributing it to poor conditions in custody.
Concerned about his welfare and lack of formal charges, the Obutong/Efangha Offiong Royal House, Akabom’s ancestral family, has appealed to the Cross River State Government for swift action.
In a formal petition dated April 28, 2025, and signed by family head Dr. Ekanem Cobham (JP) alongside Mrs. Cynthia Ironbar-Bassey, the royal house called on authorities to investigate the situation.
The petition, addressed to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Intelligence Matters and the State Planning Service Commission, accuses senior security operatives of unlawfully detaining Akabom without due process or public explanation.
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