The family of Mr. Elijah Bassey, a man with special needs, is urgently asking for the public’s assistance in locating him after he went missing in Ajuwon, Ifo Local Government Area, Ogun State, in August 2024.
Bassey, who had been struggling with mental health issues, disappeared while his brother, Ekpo, was out buying food for him.
His son, Samuel Bassey, shared the family’s efforts to locate him. “We have searched the entire community and reported the matter to the Zone 2 Police Command. My dad was dealing with mental health issues, and we had taken him from Ajuwon to our village in Akwa Ibom for better care. A few weeks later, a family member brought him back to Ajuwon. On the day he went missing, our uncle said he left to buy food, but when he returned, my father was nowhere to be found. We immediately reported the situation to the police.”
Bassey’s daughter, Rebecca, also appealed to the public for help. “My father wasn’t feeling well, so we were advised to take him to our village in Akwa Ibom for proper care. His brother there promised to look after him. A family member then brought him back to Lagos, but just days after his return, he went missing. I live in Ilorin with my husband, but I traveled to Lagos as soon as I heard. We are pleading with Nigerians to help us find him. If anyone has information, please report to the nearest police station.”
Inspector Olanrewaju Isaac from the Zone 2 Police Command, who has been assisting the family, stressed that the priority is to find Bassey and ensure his safety. “No one has been implicated. The family just wants to know if he is safe and where he is. The case was initially reported at Ajuwon Police Station and then moved to Zone 2 for further investigation. We encourage anyone with information to contact the nearest police station.”
