The Bayelsa State Police Command has declared a 24-year-old National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Mr. Levi Anyanwu, missing. Anyanwu, who bears NYSC registration number BYS/25A/0244, was last seen on October 8, 2025.
It was reliably gathered that operatives from the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit have begun an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
Anyanwu was serving at the Ijaw National Academy, Kaiama, in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State before he went missing.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Musa Mohammed, said the command had directed the Anti-Kidnapping Unit to take necessary steps to locate and recover the corps member.
According to the statement, the missing corps member was initially believed to be with fellow Jehovah’s Witnesses worshippers, Mr. and Mrs. Wisdom George. However, the couple explained that “he was there earlier, but left afterwards.”
The police disclosed, “On 10/10/25, one, Mr Oke Emmanuel, a corps member, who is said to be the roommate of the subject, was invited by detectives and interrogated. He confirmed that the subject was with the George family until 06/10/25.
“Further disclosures were made by Mr. George that the corps member complained of illness and was taken for treatment at the Kaiama Referral Hospital, on 04/10/25, and was reportedly discharged on 05/10/25. That on 06/10/25, the missing corps member disappeared to an unknown destination.”
Investigations have also revealed that the victim’s parents were allegedly extorted of ₦100,000 by two inmates of the Igbara Correctional Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State, who posed as kidnappers.
The statement continued, “The missing youth corps member’s phone was left in his apartment. Detectives followed a GSM call from No 0906193291, which was later traced to an inmate detained at Igbara Correctional Custodian Centre, Abeokuta, in Ogun State, in connection with a kidnapping case.
“The suspect claimed that they saw the telephone number on social media and decided to take advantage of the father of the victim, Mr Anyanwu Simon ‘m’ 56 years old. The sum of N100,000:00 was paid to the account Opay; 7042793493, belonging to one Atinuke Oluwalose, a close collaborator with the detained inmate at Abeokuta Prison.”
The police further hinted that new findings from detectives suggest the corps member may have acted based on “certain recent social preferences and appetites that impinge on his religious beliefs.”
“Measures are still ongoing to consolidate law enforcement activities, to enable a proper conclusion on the findings of the detectives, as the findings are quite revealing. There is no case of kidnapping in this peculiar incident. Efforts are still ongoing to ensure foreclosure is found in the ongoing inquiry,” the statement added.
It will be recalled that in 2024, a corps member, Yahya Faruq, serving in Ikuru town, Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, was also reported missing. The Rivers State Police Command later arrested four suspects linked to his disappearance.
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