By Fidelis Igbinigie
Benin City – Ten years after the assassination of Hon. Aigbe Ayela Uwangue, a prominent anti-violence campaigner in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), his family remains under the shadow of persistent threats, allegedly from the same Boko Haram extremists believed responsible for his death.
Hon. Uwangue, a vocal human rights activist, was murdered on July 7, 2004, in Abaji, FCT. His activism against Boko Haram insurgency is believed to have made him a target.
Following his father’s death, Osarowinyeke Ayela Uwangue, the eldest son, launched a campaign for justice, which in turn placed him in the crosshairs of the alleged assassins. Sources reveal he narrowly escaped assassination attempts in the FCT in 2006 and 2010.
Relocating to Benin City, Edo State, Mr. Uwangue continued his pursuit of justice. However, a 2018 attack, in which gunmen targeted him en route to Lagos, suggests a sustained effort to silence him. “The entire family was traumatized by the brutal killing of our father, and we continue to live in fear,” Mr. Uwangue stated in a phone interview, speaking from a concealed location. “The killers were never apprehended, and any family member is a potential target.”
A recent police intelligence report corroborates the family’s fears, indicating a growing Boko Haram presence in the South-East, South-West, and South-South regions. The report warns that individuals perceived as “enemies of Islam,” including Mr. Uwangue, could be at heightened risk. Police advise such individuals to limit public appearances or consider seeking refuge abroad.
Boko Haram’s campaign of terror, marked by bombings and attacks in the FCT between 2004 and 2014, has claimed over 100,000 lives. The group’s targets have included churches, schools, and public spaces, with widespread abductions of women and children.
The 2014 Chibok schoolgirl kidnapping, in which 276 students were abducted, brought international attention to the group’s atrocities. While some girls escaped or were rescued, many remain unaccounted for, and Boko Haram continues to use abductees as bargaining chips in prisoner exchanges. Amnesty International estimates that at least 2,000 women and girls have been abducted by Boko Haram since 2014, with many forced into sexual slavery.
Despite government assurances, Boko Haram’s activities persist in Northern Nigeria and other regions, underscoring the ongoing threat to Mr. Uwangue and others perceived as targets.
