Girl child Abandoned @ three months old, goes missing 14 years later

A 14-year-old pupil of Command Children Primary School, Ikeja Military Cantonment, Lagos, Miss Augustina Ilevbare, is missing.

Augustina was last seen on Monday, August 5, 2013.

Until the fateful day, Augustina had been living with her father, Peter Ilevbare, a lance corporal with the Nigerian Army, 9 Brigade Garrison, Ikeja Cantonment and her stepmother,  at CBQ 75, Room 14 of the barracks.

Ilevbare, from Uroe Owen East Local Government Area of Edo State, when contacted on the phone, told PUNCH Metro that he had been living with Augustina since 1999.

He added that the girl left home without telling anyone where she was going.

He said Augustina was not born by his current wife, stressing that her mother abandoned her when she was three months old.

Ilevbare said he and the missing child’s mother were not properly married when she got pregnant for him.

He added, "Since that time, she had been living happily with me and her stepmother. Ever since her mother, whom I have severed relationship with, dumped her in my place when she was three months, I have not set my eyes on her.

"The Sunday preceding her disappearance, we (the family including Augustina), went to an eatery. That is why her disappearance is giving me cause for concern. I enquired from my wife whether they had a disagreement, she answered to the contrary."

The soldier said they had searched every nook and cranny for her but to no avail.

"Since that time, nobody has heard any information about her. She does not have phone for us to call. I searched for  her mother’s place, but she said she did not see our daughter.

"Why I am also disturbed is that nobody has called us for ransom to suspect that she must have been kidnapped,” he said.

Ilevbare said he had already reported the matter at Akinpelu Police Division in Oshodi.

He also said the matter had been reported to the Military Police office at the Ikeja Military Cantonment.

The spokesperson for the state police command, Ngozi Braide, said she could not reach the Divisional Police Officer of the station where the case was reported, adding that she would call back.