The whereabout of 15-year-old Ebuka Azudiugwu has left his father, Mr.
John Lawrence Azudiugwu and other members of the family traumatized and
heartbroken for the past two months that the dumb teenage boy has not
returned home. In a chat with Sunday Sun, the boy’s father revealed how he
came home on the night of October 5, 2015, and learnt to his horror
that his son was missing from the house. He met other members of the
family searching for Ebuka. He said
“As I returned from work that Monday, I was told they were looking
for my son.
At first, I actually believed that he was going to return
that same day, though it was already night when I got home. I couldn’t
sleep well that night, especially when it was deep into the night. As
at that time, many evil thoughts began to run through my mind,” he said.
He stated that he became very worried and afraid that something bad
might have happened to Ebuka, but he was not sure of what exactly could
have befallen him.
“The following morning, I went to Pako Police Station to
lodge a complaint. The policemen collected all the necessary information
from me and assured me that they would do everything possible to trace
my son. I later went to Ijora and Orile Police Stations to also inform
them of my ordeal.“Later on, while we were asking people around if they came across
Ebuka, some people said they saw him the following day in a certain
area, but they were not aware that he was missing from home. I would not
know how true that was. But I don’t want to believe that he is dead.
Why will anyone kill him?”
Azudiugwu who hails from Isieke village in Okija town, Ihiala Local
Government Area of Anambra State described Ebuka as a quiet and
easy-going boy loved by everyone in the neighbourhood, and who is fair
in complexion. He said that the teenager had an ailment when he was a
toddler, and further revealed that the health incident caused him speech
impairment. Following what seemed like recovery from the unfortunate
illness, Ebuka was no longer able to speak, but he retained full hearing
ability.
Until his disappearance, the teenager lived with his parents and
four siblings at 13, Olumoku Street, Amukoko area of Ajegunle, Lagos
State.As he spoke with Sunday Sun, tears welled up in the reddened eyes
of Azudiugwu, who strives to care for his family with income earned as a
commercial motorcyclist
However, Azudiugwu is also perturbed by the fact that since Ebuka
could not speak, evil-minded persons might have capitalized on that to
abduct him since, he could not scream, and then quietly lead the
innocent boy away.
The distressed father said he had taken his son’s name and picture to
his local church for prayers in the earnest hope and belief for divine
intervention in the situation of his son. He called on the police,
hospitals and members of the public to help him locate his son.
Ebuka’s mother, Victoria, has been weeping and praying everyday for
her son to return home unharmed. The hapless mother of the missing
teenager had gone out on the fateful day to hawk cooked food at a
construction site, which she does to earn a pittance to support her
husband in caring for the family. When she came home that Monday
evening, October 5, after the day’s sales, which now seems like a Black
Monday, to hear the heart-rending story that her first born was missing,
Victoria, like Rachel in the Bible, she raised her voice in
lamentation and profusely wept.
Mr. Christian Okoligwe, who is a family friend to the Azudiugwu’s, told Sunday Sun,
how his heart cut after Ebuka’s father narrated his ordeal to him. He
said he was moved by the pathetic story and had since taken the poor and
dejected father to different places, including media houses, where he
could seek help that may lead to unraveling the mystery surrounding
Ebuka’s whereabouts.