Amid rising tension and growing fear in Agbarho, Delta State, a series of disturbing child disappearance cases particularly involving twins has left residents, especially mothers, deeply alarmed. Many insist their children vanished under suspicious and troubling circumstances.
Speaking on the issue, Olorogun Jago Egbo, Chairman of Ughelli North Local Government Area, confirmed that the situation has triggered a high-level investigation. Families of the missing children have been invited for questioning, and five initial cases were reviewed. However, Egbo noted that some were later found not to involve foul play.
He cited specific examples: a 17-year-old girl who had eloped with her boyfriend, a child named Success who was taken by his father to Otokutu following a divorce, and two-year-old Tega, who was reportedly removed from the care of his mentally ill mother. Egbo also revealed that a cart pusher found with a child had been arrested, leading authorities to place a temporary ban on all cart pushers in the area as a safety measure.
At the heart of the growing concern are five-year-old twins, Divine and Delight Elijah, whose disappearance has particularly shaken the community. Local reports say the children were left with a 15-year-old girl, and at some point, one of the twins was allegedly sent out to buy sachet water and never came back. The details remain unclear, but the incident has heightened fears of a possible child abduction network preying on vulnerable families in the area.
Mothers in the Agbarho community have been outspoken, raising concerns about what they see as a troubling pattern—children, especially twins or those from less privileged families, going missing under suspicious circumstances. They stress that these reports are not made lightly, emphasizing that no mother would falsely claim her child is missing without serious cause.
Addressing criticism about the perceived lack of police action, Local Government Chairman Olorogun Jago Egbo defended law enforcement, stating they should not be blamed. He also revealed that the local government has offered a ₦5 million reward for anyone with credible information that could help locate the missing children.
“This is an unprecedented situation,” Egbo said. “Every human life matters to us.”
However, his comments have sparked more questions than answers. While Egbo initially stated that only two children had been officially reported missing, he later revised that number after meeting with the community’s women leader. He confirmed that three children are now unaccounted for: two-year-old Tega, four-year-old Moses Lucky, and Divine, one of the missing twins who disappeared just two days prior.
The inconsistencies in the official narrative have only deepened public unease. Many residents argue that the women raising these alarms are doing so out of desperation, not for attention or personal gain. In a society where child safety is a deeply emotional and sensitive issue, suggestions that these concerns are being exaggerated have not been well received.
With public trust in official statements starting to erode and fears mounting, the people of Agbarho are urgently demanding clarity and action. What initially appeared to be a few isolated incidents is beginning to look like it may point to a more disturbing and systemic problem.
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