PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria — Deep-seated alarm has gripped communities within the Ogoni ethnic nationality in Rivers State following the disturbing disappearance of over nine children in recent weeks.
According to an inside source who made it known to journalists on Saturday, August 12, 2023, this troubling trend was initiated about three weeks ago.
Within this short timeframe, more than nine children have reportedly gone missing.
Specifically, Bera community in Gokana Local Government Area is grappling with the disappearance of five of its young ones.
The informant, preferring anonymity, also drew attention to earlier missing reports of two children from Nweola community and another two from Mogho, both situated in Gokana.
The gravitas of the situation was emphasized with an urgent appeal: “Please keep an eye on your children.”
Corroborating this unsettling narrative, the President of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, Fegalo Nsuke, acknowledged these disappearances, pointing towards suspected ritualistic activities.
He revealed that to combat this dire situation, “MOSOP has initiated a sensitization process, and we’re liaising with traditional rulers to restore calm and safety.”
He elaborated on a particular incident in Bera: “A person sent an elderly individual and a child on an errand. When the older person returned, the child had vanished.”
Voicing his concerns, Nsuke stated, “Education is pivotal. People need to be made aware and be vigilant. Most cases aren’t even reported to the police until after the incident.”
However, there seems to be a disparity in the numbers.
When reached for a statement, the Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, Superintendent Grace Iringe-Koko, mentioned that according to the District Police Officer in the area, only one case of a missing child has been officially reported so far.
The stark contrast in the numbers reported by the community and the police underscores the urgency and necessity for a thorough investigation into these disappearances, illuminating the broader issues at play in the Ogoni communities.