A 13-year-old girl from Ilefunfun, Magbon, Badagry, Lagos State, has
allegedly fled with a boyfriend who lives in Ilogbo, Oko Afo, a
neighbouring community.
The Senior Secondary School One pupil, Lawal, reportedly eloped with the
boyfriend, identified simply as Akin, on October 22 and had yet to
return home.
PUNCH Metro learnt that a friend of the girl, known as Kemi, hooked her
up with Akin, who is said to be an okada (motocycle) rider.
It was said 21-year-old Akin and Lawal had met in a church on the day, from where she took her away.
It was gathered that the case was reported at the Morogbo Police Division, but the police had yet to track Akin down.
The father of the girl, Isah, a dock worker in Apapa, stated that Kemi
and Akin’s parents had frustrated efforts to find his daughter.
He said, “I have been searching for her for two weeks. I went to my
workplace in Apapa. When I came back, her siblings told me that she went
to Holy Mary Church, where Akin waited for her. The pastor of the
church, a woman, confirmed to me that she saw her and Akin, but said
they left before the end of service that day.
“I went to Akin’s house. His mother said she did not know his
whereabouts and that he only came home every evening. I told the police
what she said, but they said they would not arrest her.
“Kemi said
she knew where he passes the night. I have been begging her parents to
allow her take me to the place. She was the one that introduced my
daughter to Akin. He is an okada rider.”
Isah, who said his daughter had been decent until she struck a
relationship with Kemi, explained that she had fled to Kemi’s house and
spent two days with her a week before running away with Akin.
He said, “I have been responsible for her upbringing and that of her
sisters since their mother died five years ago. She changed suddenly and
her behaviour has become strange.
“A week before she fled with Akin,
I returned from work in the evening on Friday. A neighbour told me that
she went out with Kemi.
“When I got there, Kemi’s mother said she
had gone out with Kemi to iron her clothes. She returned home the
following day and I warned her not to associate with Kemi again.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, said the case was reported at the Morogbo division.
He said, “ During investigation, he (Isah) said he suspected somebody
who is her boyfriend. Investigation is ongoing to arrest the boyfriend
and find the daughter of the man. A case of missing person was reported
at the station.”