Despite calls from Nigerians on X.com urging the Lagos State Police Command to investigate the whereabouts of six ladies allegedly missing after a house party in the Lekki area over the weekend, TheNigerian Metro reports that no formal complaint has been filed at any police station in the state.
The Assistant Commissioner of Police for Area J Command (Elemoro), which oversees police divisions in Lekki and surrounding areas, Oluyemisi Ojo, disclosed this information to our correspondent on Thursday in response to an inquiry about the alleged missing ladies.
Nigerians took to X to criticise the state command for failing to rescue the victims after the news broke that they were allegedly taken, despite the numerous police checkpoints across the state.
A less than one-minute viral video shared on the X.com handle of @MacDanielsBlog on December 1, 2024, features a lady recounting how seven women were initially invited to a party, with one narrowly escaping after returning to retrieve her forgotten wig.
According to the lady, by the time the seventh lady returned, the car had already driven off, leaving her behind.
She expressed concern over the situation, noting that the missing ladies’ phones are unreachable and their friends have been unable to make contact. She described the incident as deeply concerning.
“Six girls in Lekki have gone missing. They were invited to a private house party, and no one has heard from them. Their lines no longer go through, and their friends can’t reach them.
“Only one person survived because she went back to get her hair. When she returned, they were gone. They (the ladies) were supposed to be seven for the house party, but they took six. The six girls are missing.
“Beware of people. Stop meeting new people on the island or in Lekki. They’ll use you for rituals. Many are returning to Nigeria to perform rituals, and they’ll use you. Be very careful,” the lady warned.
In response to our correspondent’s questions on Thursday, Ojo clarified that no one had filed a complaint regarding the six missing girls.
She further noted that the state police command had attempted to contact the social media user who posted the information to assist with the investigation, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
She said, “We haven’t received any reports of such. We are taking it upon ourselves to search for the social media informant so we can get details.”
Despite the recent increase in cases of abductions of women for extortion and ritual purposes in Lagos and Ogun states, the woman in the viral video did not provide details about the party’s location, the names of the victims, or when the incident occurred.
TheNigerian Metro reports that the Ogun State Police spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, on Wednesday, linked many cases of missing young women to ritual practices, with a growing connection to the rising hookup culture in the country.
She said, “This particular menace is very serious and I would like a lot of young people to understand the danger in the hookup culture. Today, we have lots of reports of missing persons. By the time we start an investigation, not less than 10 young girls and ladies go missing daily.”