DSS Questions Mother Of Stowaway Teenager

BENIN CITY — OFFICIALS of the Department of State
Services, DSS, in Edo State, yesterday, quizzed the
mother of the 15-year-old Daniel Oikhena, who emerged
from the wheel compartment of an Arik Air flight from
Benin Airport to Lagos, last Saturday.
Mrs Evelyn Oikhena, who confirmed her invitation to
newsmen, said she was shocked when her sister-in-law
in Germany called her to say that she read the incident
on the internet.
Evelyn Oikhena and son, Daniel Oikhena
She said she was shocked that her son could embark on
such a life-threatening journey to where he had never
been before.
Speaking in Benin City, yesterday, Mrs Oikhena said her
son was at home with his elder sister, Tonia, his two
younger brothers and his grand mother while the mother
was away to visit her elder sister who had put to bed.
She said: “So I was shocked when I came back
Saturday morning, and they told me that Daniel has
disappeared and when I asked my daughter she said
she had a quarrel with him because the boy was
watching movies late into the night.
“I had even gone to report the matter at Evbuotubu
police station before my sister-in-law from Germany
called me to say that the story of my son was in the
internet.
“One of Daniel’s younger brothers said he saw him
remove his school books from his bag. So I asked my
neighbhours whether any of them saw him and they told
me that around 5 to 6 am, they heard sounds that
somebody was opening the gate but never thought it
was my son. He doesn’t go out. What I know is that he
is always watching movies in the house but he doesn’t
have friends.
“I went to Oba Market police station, they referred me to
Evbuotubu police station. When I got there, they said
they would declare him missing after 24 hours and that
I should come back the next day. I went to inform my
pastor and other members, my friends and other
relations.”