Margaret Ikumu
A teenage girl, Margaret Ikumu, 19, of Oni community in Oju Local Government Area of Benue, has faked her own death on social media to avoid financial pressure from her mother.
According to a statement by DSP Bala Elkana, the Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos State on Sunday said Ikumu, through her facebook account, reported to have died a few days ago and was secretly buried by her two friends, Marvelous Mary and Nneka Buddy, at Ajah area.
“The family of the fake deceased further stated that they were able to establish contact with the said friends who confirmed to them that their daughter is dead.
“To make them believe that the girl is dead, they sent WhatsApp chats to a member of the girl’s family with a picture of a casket showing that the girl is buried.
“The family also got in touch with a man on phone who claimed to be her boyfriend. He corroborated the claim that she is dead,” he said.
Elkana said that the girl was eventually found by the Police to be alive and was working as a housemaid in an estate at Ajah.
“When her employer saw the report of her purported death, they quickly informed the Police, and she was brought to Ajah Police Station.
“In her statement, she (Ikumu) confessed to have created the Facebook account and posted her obituary with intent to keep her family away from her.
“She said that her mother was putting financial pressure on her by constantly demanding that she sends money to her,” he said.
Elkana said that the girl was apparently bitter with her mother and uncles over their inability to sponsor her education after the death of her father.
He said that Ikumu came to Lagos to work with a view to saving some money and returning to school.
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2 Comments
Many thanks to TJ for his straight forward answer to the problem. In 2012, I noticed that some parents were putting unbelievable burdens on their children, who in most cases were not given any worthwhile formal education. And just like in the case of this lady, most of those involved were the mothers. There was an instance where a mother was living with all her children in the same rented quarters. Some of the ladies divorced their husbands to live with the woman while the men were living with their wives and children there. All because the woman is dependent on her children.
The government should look urgently into how to make life easier for the senior citizens by way of establishing Old Age Homes for people above sixty years. It’s not good to abandon these people in their old age as they can constitute problems for their children and relatives who in most cases are themselves living below poverty line
This is a very serious matter that must be looked into. I for one have observed this trend and it’s surely pushing our teenagers the wrong way. Parents must desist from this so called African culture. Just because you did for your parents, don’t expect your children to tow same line. Life is getting tougher for this generation. To the Nigerian Police, please protect this young lady
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