The family of Miss Daniela Onyinyechi Ekuma, a National Youth Service Corps member, has accused the Department of State Services of taking their daughter and moving her to an undisclosed location after detaining her in Ebonyi State.
Her parents told SaharaReporters on Tuesday that Daniela had left her NYSC orientation camp in Ekiti State to attend her grandmother’s burial in Afikpo North, Ebonyi State, on August 21, 2025.
In the early hours of Thursday around 4am, DSS operatives allegedly raided the community, arrested the corps member, and took her to their office in Abakaliki.
The family says Daniela was later moved to an unknown location, and no one has been able to find her since.
Her parents say their repeated attempts to get information from the DSS have failed.
“My daughter came from NYSC Camp in Ekiti State for her grandmother’s burial on August 21st, 2025.
But she was arrested in Afikpo North, Ebonyi State, by DSS in the early hours of Thursday and taken to their office in Abakaliki. Later, they moved her to an unknown location,” her parents said.
“I don’t know where she is now. I have tried several times to find out where she was taken, but DSS won’t give us any information.
Please help me. My daughter is supposed to resume at her NYSC place of assignment this September 2025.”
The family remains deeply concerned about Daniela’s safety as they continue asking authorities and the public for help.
Human rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns about unlawful arrests and secret detentions by security agencies, particularly in Nigeria’s South-East region.
Two weeks ago, SaharaReporters reported another case in Abia State where Mrs. Chioma Chikadibia died after months of depression and poor health caused by the continued detention of her husband and three daughters by the Abia State Police Command.
Her surviving daughter, Chikiezie Ifeoma Lilian, confirmed that her mother died on August 8, 2025.
“I lost my mom on Friday, August 8, 2025. She died from depression and other complications because of the continued detention of my father and my three sisters by the police,” she said.
The detained family members are 63-year-old shoemaker Mr. Chikadibia Sunday and his daughters Glory, Ngozi, and Ogechi.
They were arrested on April 12, 2025, during a violent midnight raid on their home in Alaukwu Village, Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area.
