I’ve lived in agony since January after my husband’s disappearance — Wife

Sarah Ohazurume, wife of Anthony Innocent, who went missing in Imo State in January, speaks with TEMITOPE ADETUNJI about her husband’s disappearance, the family’s search for answers and her hope for his safe return

When did you first realise that your husband was missing, and where did he travel to?

 We have been married for two years and a few months. I am a businesswoman, my husband is also a businessman and a solar engineer.

 We live in Lagos. My husband travelled to our hometown in Imo State for the Christmas holiday on December 29, 2025. I did not travel with him because our baby was still very young.

 There was no problem between us before he travelled. We had been communicating normally, and everything was fine. Some people have asked if we had any misunderstanding before he disappeared, but there was nothing like that. He never told me that he was having problems with anyone.

 He travelled for the Christmas celebration and also wanted to check on my father-in-law, who had suffered a stroke around that period. He was the only one who travelled home because he wanted to take care of his father and make sure he got his medication and other things he needed.

 Did he let you know when he arrived in Imo State?

 Yes, he did. He told me when he arrived in Imo State. He was staying in the village when he went missing.

 On January 10, 2026, we spoke in the morning. He told me that he was in Okigwe town. Our place has a town and the main village, so he explained that he had gone to the town to repair his motorcycle.

 He told me that by God’s grace, he would return home and call me when he got back. After our conversation, I called him again at about 6:45 pm, but there was no response.

 At first, I thought perhaps he was with some of his friends and could not talk at that moment. I decided not to worry myself because it was a Saturday. I thought he would probably call me the following day, Sunday, to ask how the baby and I were doing.

 When did you begin to realise that something might actually be wrong?

 The following day, he did not call. That was when I became worried and decided to call his sister, my sister-in-law.

 I asked her whether she had heard from her brother. She said she had not and wondered why I was asking because she thought I should be the one who knew where he was. I told her that I had been calling him since the previous day, but he was not answering.

 His phone was still ringing at the time. The line was going through, but he was not picking up. She suggested that perhaps he had gone somewhere with his father and advised me to exercise patience.

 We waited until around midnight, 1 am and 2 am, but there was still no word from him. That was when we realised that something could be seriously wrong and decided to raise the alarm.

 What happened to his phone afterwards?

 His number continued to go through for some time, but his phone was eventually switched off. We thought perhaps the battery had gone flat or something else had happened.

 His line eventually stopped going through on Tuesday (January 13). As of now, we still cannot reach him through the phone. His disappearance has therefore become even more difficult to understand because we do not know what happened to him or where he went.

 What is his position in the family?

 He is the second son in the family. His father is an elderly man, and the situation has been very difficult for the family. His siblings are also trying to cope with everything that has happened.

 Before his disappearance, did you have any reason to believe that he was having problems with anyone?

 No. My husband is a kind person. Within a short period, I have known him to be kind and peaceful. He does not look for trouble or deliberately cause problems for people. He also never told me that he was having issues with anybody before he travelled.

 Was there anything unusual about his plans on the day he disappeared?

 The major problem is that he did not tell anyone exactly where he was going. He only told me that he was in Okigwe town to repair his motorcycle and that he would call me when he returned home.

 Because he did not give us the exact location he was going to or the person he intended to meet, it became difficult for us to trace his movements after he disappeared. That has made the whole situation a mystery to everyone.

 Have you received any information, calls or clues about his whereabouts since he disappeared?

 We have not received any clear information or clue about his whereabouts. But some people called us, claiming that there was a business transaction between them involving more than a million naira.

 After we sent the money to them, they blocked us. Some people started saying that they were scammers and that they knew nothing about us.

 We believe they were interested in taking money from us. After the money was sent, they blocked us, and we could not get through to them. However, that has not provided us with any clear clue about where my husband is.

 What do you think might have happened to him?

 I have thought about so many possibilities because we simply do not know what happened.

 One thing that worries me is that he left with his motorcycle. I do not know whether he was actually with the motorcycle when something happened to him or whether someone might have attacked him and assumed that he had stolen the motorcycle.

 There are many thoughts running through my mind because we do not have enough information.

 Has the matter been reported to the police?

 Yes, the matter has been reported to the police. Unfortunately, nothing has been done so far. We have not seen any meaningful progress in the investigation, and we are still waiting for the authorities to take action to help us find my husband.

 How difficult has the uncertainty been for you since January?

 It has been very difficult. Not knowing where my husband is or what has happened to him has been extremely painful.

 I am mentally broken. I lost my parents at an early stage of my life, and I am their only child. So, losing my husband has been another enormous burden for me. He was the person I had and depended on, and suddenly, he disappeared. I have been left trying to cope with everything while also taking care of our young child. It has not been easy at all.

 How has his disappearance affected the family financially and emotionally?

 It has affected everyone. His father already had a stroke and needed care and medication. His brother also had to undergo immediate surgery, and we spent almost N4.7m on the surgery. So, financially, it has been extremely difficult for the family.

 It has also been difficult because I have a small child to take care of; my child is just two years old. I am in Lagos, and even my accommodation has become a concern.

 There are many responsibilities, and the person who should have been here to share those responsibilities with me is missing. The family has been going through a lot since January.

 How have his parents been coping with the situation?

 It has not been easy for them either. His father is already dealing with the consequences of the stroke, and now his son, who went home partly to take care of him, has disappeared.

 The entire family has been affected. It is difficult for everyone because Anthony is an important member of the family, and his absence has created a huge gap.

 What do you miss most about your husband?

 I honestly do not know how to explain it. I am totally speechless when I think about it.

 There are many things I miss about having him around, but the whole situation is beyond words. I cannot properly express what it feels like not to know where my husband is.

 Sometimes, you try to imagine what might have happened, but you have no answers. That uncertainty is painful.

 Have there been moments when you felt hopeful that he would return?

 Yes. I remain hopeful that he will return. My instincts cannot lie to me, and I will never imagine that my husband would deliberately leave me and our baby like this. He cannot do that to me.

 I am 100 per cent sure that he will come back to me and our baby. I believe that he will return.

 What would you like the police and other relevant authorities to do differently in cases like yours?

 I want the authorities to do more to protect innocent people and properly investigate cases like this.

 Sometimes, people are arrested or detained because they are suspected of something, but we do not know whether the people being arrested are actually responsible for what happened.

 In my husband’s case, we do not even know whether it is a kidnap case or whether something else happened to him. I have thought about many possibilities.

 For instance, if something happened involving his motorcycle, someone might have wrongly assumed that he stole it. We simply do not know. The authorities should investigate properly and ensure that innocent people are not killed or punished for crimes they did not commit.

 Some of the people being detained have families who depend on them. Their families need them.

 What would you say to the authorities about the effect of your husband’s disappearance on your family?

 They should understand that when an important person is taken away from a family, the consequences affect everyone. Look at me, for instance. I have a baby. What am I supposed to do if the person who should be there with me is no longer available?

 Since January, our entire family has been affected. His father is sick, his brother has also gone through surgery, and now Anthony is missing. The situation has affected the entire family.

 The village itself has been affected because everyone is worried and confused about what happened to him. All we want is to know where he is and to have him back.

 What is your greatest hope at this point?

 My greatest hope is that my husband will return safely. I want him to come back to me and our baby.

 I am still hopeful because I believe he would not deliberately abandon us. I want the authorities and everyone who can help to do everything possible to find him.

 We need answers; we need to know where he is and what happened to him. Most importantly, I want my husband to come home safely.