Families and supporters of five engineers allegedly killed in Ebonyi State in 2021 have announced plans to stage a peaceful protest in Abuja on Monday, March 16, 2026, to demand justice and the release of the victims’ bodies.

The protest, scheduled to hold at the National Assembly ground between 8am and 11am, is being organised by members of the Ihiala community and other concerned Nigerians seeking accountability over the deaths of the engineers popularly referred to as the “NELAN 5.”

According to the organisers, the five engineers were reportedly killed in Ebonyi State during the administration of former governor and current Minister of Works, Dave Umahi.

They said the bodies of the victims have yet to be recovered more than four years after the incident.

In a notice circulated ahead of the protest, the organisers called on sons and daughters of Ihiala living in Abuja and surrounding areas to participate in the demonstration to press for justice.

“We invite all sons and daughters of Ihiala in Abuja and beyond to join us in seeking justice for the NELAN 5,” the organisers said in the statement, noting that the protest will be led by Engineer Nelson Onyemeh.

They added that the demonstration would be peaceful and conducted in accordance with the law, stating that permission had already been secured from the police to hold the gathering at a single location.

Participants are expected to converge at the National Assembly ground, where they will call on the Ebonyi State Government and relevant authorities to account for the deaths and release the bodies of the victims to their families.

To ease participation, transport arrangements have been made for protesters departing from several locations within the Federal Capital Territory, including Apo Mechanics, Under Karu Bridge, Dei-Dei Pedestrian Bridge and Lugbe Bridge. Departure time from the designated points has been fixed for 7:00 a.m., while breakfast will be provided for attendees.

The organisers urged participants to turn out in large numbers to ensure their voices are heard and to demand justice for the slain engineers.

“We want justice,” the organisers said. “We demand that the Ebonyi State government and Dave Umahi give us the bodies and ensure justice for the victims..”

Tracking records revealed how a notorious kidnapper identified as “Small,” who was allegedly linked to the disappearance or killing of five engineers working on the Abakaliki Ring Road project in Ebonyi State, communicated repeatedly with individuals connected to the project, including lawyer Chioma Nweze and project coordinator Felix Otta.

The disturbing revelations emerged from phone tracking records and testimonies provided by family members of the missing engineers, who have continued to demand justice years after their disappearance.

The Abakaliki Ring Road project was initiated during the administration of former Ebonyi State governor Dave Umahi, who now serves as Nigeria’s Minister of Works under the government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to sources within the families of the missing engineers, phone triangulation and call records allegedly show repeated communication between the notorious kidnapper “Small” and individuals associated with the project, including Nweze and Otta.

The revelations have raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the five Nelan engineers, a case that has remained unresolved for years.

“Small,” whose phone number was identified as 08088985480, was allegedly the person who first contacted the family members of the engineers shortly after their disappearance.

The same criminal was also previously alleged to have been involved in the killing of Chike Akunyili, husband of the late former Minister of Information Dora Akunyili.

Family sources told SaharaReporters that “Small” made the first call demanding money after claiming that one of the engineers had been involved in an accident and urgently required funds for treatment.