Mother Of Stowaway Teen Expresses Worry Over Son’s Whereabouts

Having seen her son only once since the Department of State Security, DSS released him to the Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs on Tuesday, mother of the 13-year stowaway boy, Mrs Evelyn Oikhena, yesterday, expressed confusion over her son’s whereabouts. The family of the boy, including the father, Mr Osaigbovo Oikhena, who surfaced prior to the meeting between the family and Governor Adams Oshiomhole at Government House Benin City, Tuesday, appealed to the state government to release the boy to enable him return home to his family. The closed door meeting between the family and Governor Oshiomhole lasted till about 8:30pm, where he admonished the boy to be serious with his education and avoid any form of criminality, just as he assured of the state government’s commitment towards ensuring that the children of the poor enjoy quality education. Mrs Oikhena, however, said yesterday that despite the governor’s instruction to the security agents and officials of the Ministry of Women Affairs to release the boy to the family, she was yet to see him back home. “I just don’t know what is happening now. The governor said he should be released to us but I think the ministry officials have their own plans. I don’t even know where my son is kept now, I am still trying to find out what the problem is. We are missing him and we believe that he is a small boy and should not be subjected to further trauma. We thank the governor for his concern and God will bless him.” Ministry officials, according to Vanguard sources believe that the stowaway boy should be in their custody to educate him on how to avoid any form of criminality in future with a view to ensuring he uses his talents positively.