Minister David Umahi Responds to Protests Over 2021 Killing of NELAN Engineers; Cites Ongoing Judicial Process and Confessions

Works Minister David Umahi addresses the 2021 killing of NELAN engineers in Ebonyi, stating that confessed suspects are currently facing trial.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 16, 2026, 11:51 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Politics Nigeria

Minister Addresses Grievances of Bereaved Families

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has formally responded to a protest staged by relatives and sympathizers of five engineers from NELAN Consulting Engineers who were killed during a communal crisis in 2021. In a statement released on Monday, March 16, 2026, through his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, the Minister described the incident as a "painful tragedy" and expressed profound sympathy for the families. The protest was sparked by renewed concerns over the pursuit of justice for the professionals who went missing while working on a government road project in Ebonyi State.

Context of the 2021 Communal Conflict

The Ministry’s statement contextualized the deaths within the violent communal clash between the Effium and Ezza Effium communities in the Ohaukwu Local Government Area. On November 3, 2021, the engineers were caught in a wider wave of insecurity that decimated lives and properties in the region. The Minister’s office clarified that the victims were not "singled out in isolation" but were casualties of a broader, severe conflict that was ravaging the area at the height of the communal war. This period in Ebonyi’s history was marked by significant displacement and loss of life across several districts.

Recounting the Initial Investigative Response

At the time of the disappearance, David Umahi served as the Governor of Ebonyi State. According to his media office, the Governor mobilized an immediate response upon receiving news of the missing engineers. The statement asserts that Umahi personally accompanied security operatives into the conflict zones to coordinate search efforts. These intensive investigations eventually led to the apprehension of several suspects. The Ministry emphasizes that these individuals reportedly confessed to the crime, providing the necessary evidence to hand the case over to the state’s judicial authorities.