- Pains, agony as wife narrates how 64 year old hubby got missing in Lagos
- According to her, police says they are yet to trace missing hubby four months after incident
- She appeals to the general public to share any information that could lead to his recovery
For the family of Herbert Ijeoma Okere of Elelem in Ngor Okpala, Imo state, September 13, 2023 will always be fresh in their memory. It was the day their father, Herbert Ijeoma Okere went missing with no trace of his whereabouts till the time of this publication.
Narrating the heart-breaking incident to our reporter in an exclusive chat with his wife, Mrs. Oluchi Okere said the family has not known peace of mind since her husband got missing.
According to the woman, the husband got missing few days to his 64th birthday anniversary, thereby throwing the entire family into inexplicable trauma, agony and hardship.
Explaining how it happened, the mother of six stated that, “ he has been sick for sometime which later degenerated to having dementia. We came back from Lagos state where are staying to our hometown in Ngor Okpala, Imo for Christmas festivities in 2022. We also used the opportunity to take him hospital in Imo state. After series of laboratory tests, he was diagnized of dementia.”
Explaining further, the visibly traumatized wife told WITHIN NIGERIA that “ since then, I and my children have been managing the sickness.
“However, at a time we noticed that he usually went out on his own. For this reason, we then started keeping special eye on him. We couldn’t allow him to go anywhere on his own, while we continue to give him his recommended by his physicians.
“Then on September 13, 2023, I went out do a photocopy of some documents, just few metres away from our house at Isolo in Lagos. I told him where I was going because it was about two hundred metres away from our house. Under five minutes, I was already back.”
Mrs. Okere in emotion-laden explanation told WITHIN NIGERIA that, “ when I came back, I went to where he was sitting while I was going but I could not see him again. I thought he has gone back to the room to rest but when I went inside the room, I could not see him either. I asked some people sitting around the area and they told me that they told me that they saw him just about two minutes before going out of the area. I immediately rushed down to the area I thought he was heading but I couldn’t see him. I searched for him round all the environs that day and even beyond, all to no avail.”
On whether the family has reported the incident to the security operatives, Mrs. Okere said that they have reported the incident to Isolo, Okota and other police stations in Lagos.
“The police kept on telling us that if they find out anything that can lead to his recovery, they will contact us. Up till this moment, we have not heard from the police neither have we seen him.”
She stated that she is not suspecting any foul play in the missing of her husband. She also expressed her optimism that her husband is still alive.
Asked if they have resorted to any other method either by spiritual or otherwise to recover the missing husband, Mrs. Okere told our reporter that they have displayed his pictures in all social media and churches for possible tracing of his whereabouts. She also stated that they have gone to a priest for possible solution.
“We came back for 2023 and my husband’s siblings and I went to one prayer ministry for special prayer for my missing husband. The priest in charge told me to go to one Church of God Mission in Isolo and ask about him.
“When we came back from Christmas festivity, I told my children and we went to the place as directed by the man of God and one woman who saw his picture we showed her told us that my husband has been staying in her shop since November last year. She regretted that she didn’t know that he was missing. She further said that my husband has moved out from her shop and gone to Mushin. That we should go to Mushin and look for him there.”
She however told our reporter that they have gone to Mushin to look for him, all to no avail, while stressing that they have scattered his pictures all over the place, including social media.
Mrs. Oluchi however, appealed to the general public with vital information leading to the whereabouts to call, SMS or Whatsapp 08141662326, 07031038311 or 07089433991. The person can also report to the nearest police station.