The family of a seven-year-old girl, Mercy Akande, has expressed deep concern over her disappearance on Monday in the Sango Ota area of Ogun State.
Reports indicate that Mercy went missing near the Point of Sale (PoS) terminal operated by her mother. A yet-to-be-identified man, described as a regular customer, allegedly lured the child away under the pretext of running an errand.
According to Jude, a nephew of Mercy’s mother, the suspect had built a rapport with the family by frequenting the shop to make transactions and buying food for the child.
On the day of the incident, the man reportedly purchased food for himself and Mercy before sending her to buy sachet water. Upon her return, he intercepted her midway to collect the water. Mercy’s mother, who noticed the interaction, was distracted by other customers. When she looked back, both the man and her daughter had disappeared.
Jude narrated, “The man had become familiar through frequent visits to the shop. On Monday, December 23, he bought food for himself and the girl, then sent her to buy water. When she returned, he approached her, but by the time her mother checked again, they were gone.”
Police Involvement and Financial Demands
Mercy’s mother launched an immediate search, but her efforts were unsuccessful. Repeated calls to the suspect’s phone went unanswered, and the line eventually became unreachable.
The case was reported to the nearest police station in Sango Ota. However, the family faced financial demands from law enforcement. According to a family member, the mother was asked to pay ₦10,000 to file a report and an additional ₦30,000 to track the suspect’s phone number.
A relative, who posted about the incident on social media, lamented the financial hurdles, stating, “She has paid ₦8,000 to write her statement and ₦2,000 for the child’s photos. Tracking the phone will cost ₦30,000, but efforts to obtain a court affidavit were delayed due to the holiday.”
Police Response Pending
Efforts to reach the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, for comments have been unsuccessful, as calls and messages to her were not returned at the time of this report.
The family continues to appeal for public assistance and hopes for swift intervention to ensure Mercy’s safe return.
