Nigeria – The family of Samson Orban has expressed deep distress over his disappearance and a widely circulated video in which he is seen being interrogated and beaten by members of a pro-Biafra group.
Samson, who has been missing for over two weeks, is the son of Lance Corporal Aondona Orban of the Nigerian Army, who is currently attending a course in Kaduna State. The family revealed that Samson has been struggling with mental health challenges, which they have been managing for some time.
A video posted on the Facebook page of a pro-Biafra group shows Samson tied up and being questioned about his origins. Under duress, he appears to say he was trained at Elele Military Barracks in Rivers State and came from the Arewa region. When asked how many people accompanied him, he initially stated he was alone but, after being beaten, changed his answer to “225 students, sir.”
The interrogator in the video can be heard accusing Samson of being part of a group sent to attack the Southeast, stating, “Ndi Onuimo, this is where Samson is being held. He came to kill us.”
Speaking to SaharaReporters, Lance Corporal Orban refuted these claims, emphasizing that his son is neither a soldier nor a Fulani herdsman, as alleged in the video. “It’s not true that my son is a Fulani herdsman or a soldier. He’s a Christian, and he doesn’t even speak Fulani. He has been having mental health issues, and we’ve been managing them as a family,” Orban said.
He recounted a previous incident where Samson wandered off toward Imo State in search of a job but was stopped by soldiers who recognized him and brought him back home.
The family is urgently appealing for Samson’s release, stressing that he is a vulnerable individual who may not fully comprehend the situation he is in. They have also called on security agencies to intervene and ensure his safe return.
Attempts to reach the Imo State Police Command for comment were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
