by Anike Jacobs
A 12-year-old primary six pupil of Alaguntan Primary School, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos, Kingsley Peter, who was accused of stealing a sum of N1,000 has fled home.
He reportedly left home since the morning of Tuesday, November 25, and is yet to return.
Peter was brought to Lagos by his uncle, Ubani from the Obi Ngwa Local Government Area of Abia State in 2011, and had been enrolled in school to continue his education. They resided on Ogunbowale Street, Moshalashi in the Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos.
On the morning of Tuesday, Ubani, who suspected that a sum of N1,000 was missing from his purse, had asked Peter, who allegedly had a habit of pilfering, to produce the money.
Ubani, a commercial driver, said all he knew was that the boy sneaked out of the house, and had since failed to return.
He told Punch:
“When Peter’s parents- my elder brother and his wife- died about three years ago, I brought him from our village in Abia to be staying with me in Lagos. I enrolled him in a primary school in the area. I have a son too, and he is an undergraduate. So, I wanted Peter to be educated. Unfortunately, he plays truancy, and also has a habit of stealing.Two months before this incident, I had also been looking for N18, 000 in the house, before Peter confessed that he took it. Later on, he was able to return only N11, 000.
“It was about 7am on that Tuesday when I was looking for a N1, 000 note in the house and I called him. He was already dressed up for school. When I asked him, he did not say anything, and within minutes, he just sneaked to the backyard. Believe me; that was the last time I set my eyes on him.”
Apart from the N1, 000, Peter had allegedly stolen about N25, 000 belonging to Ubani’s wife.
When a visit was paid to Alaguntan Primary School, it was learnt that Peter has not stepped his feet in school since the day before his disappearance. One of Peter’s friends, whose name was given as Yusuf, said he once saw the missing boy around a football club centre in the Ikeja area.
Another friend was said to have also seen Peter around the Iyana Ipaja Roundabout on an evening, but he reportedly mixed with the crowd, after hearing someone calling out his name.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the incident, adding that anyone who saw the boy should report to the police.
