Samson Folarin

A 12-year-old housemaid, identified only as Mary, has disappeared with her boss daughter, Faith Ayeh, in the Iju Ishaga area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Mary had been employed by the family through an agent about five months ago.

The incident happened on Kudirat Abiola Estate, Akute Road, Iju Ishaga.

Mary was said to be working directly with the woman of the house, Mrs. Glory Ayeh, who had a frozen foods shop on the street.

However, the suspect reportedly went out with the victim last Thursday, and their whereabouts had remained unknown.

Faith’s father, Paul, told our correspondent that his family had been shattered by the incident, saying efforts to locate them had been abortive.

He said, “My family needed a house help and one of my wife’s friends arranged one for us. She brought Mary to my family about five months ago. She is the same age with my daughter.

“I was told that last Thursday, Mary disappeared from the house with my daughter. Our driver said he saw them with a bag.

“He said when he queried them, Mary answered that my wife asked them to take the bag to her shop. Since then, we have not heard anything.”

He said the matter, which was reported at the Iju Ishaga Police Division, had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba.

Paul said the agent who brought the suspect to the family had been arrested, adding that she was assisting the police with investigations.

Our correspondent was told that the suspect, who hails from Benue State, was staying with her parents in Ibadan, Oyo State, before she was brought to live with the Ghanaian family.

 The victim’s mother, Glory Ayeh, said the agent was a relative of the suspect.

“I never sent them on any errand. She lied to take my daughter away,” she added.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confrimed the incident, saying it had been transferred to the SCIID.

-Punch