Joy Anyim
A Lagos girl, who faked own death and burial on Facebook, has been found by detective at the Ajah Police Division, Lagos State Police Command.
The 19-year-old Margaret Adiya, a maid at an estate in Ajah, had reportedly created a Facebook account with the picture of her employer’s daughter, and posted her own obituary.
The native of Oju Local Government Area, Benue State, had connived with her friends, Marvelous, Mary, and Nneka Buddy, to perpetrate the act.
Investigation revealed that the three accomplices had also sent WhatsApp messages with pictures of a casket to Adiya’s family members, claiming she was dead, and had authorised them to bury her without informing her family.
In a bid to unravel the mystery behind the death and secret burial of their daughter, the family petitioned the Lagos State Police Command to investigate the matter.
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However, her employer, who had seen the post about her death and burial, quickly alerted the police that Adiya was well and alive.
Speaking on the reason for her action, Adiya said she wanted to end the many financial demands form her mother.
She said that after her father’s demise, her family had refused to continue training her in school, hence, the need to work, save some money and return to school.
“While in Benue, they were not willing to train me in school. I left for Lagos, and instead of them to allow me save money as I planned and return to school, since they don’t want to train me in school, they keep calling me for money as though I have the money piled up somewhere, ” she stated.
A statement on Sunday, signed by the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Elkana Bala, confirmed the girl had been found and alive.
According to the statement by the command, investigation is still ongoing.
The statement reads: “The family stated that they were able to establish contact with the said friends of Adiya, who confirmed to them that their daughter was dead. They said they were instructed by Adiya not to allow members of her family know anything about her death and that they were authorised by the deceased person to secretly bury her.
“To make the family believe that the girl was dead, they sent WhatsApp chats to a member of the girl’s family with picture of a casket showing that the girl was buried. The known phone number of the girl was also permanently switched off. 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.
“The girl was eventually found by the Police to be alive and working as a house maid 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 confessed to have created the Facebook account and posted her obituary with intent to keep her family away from her.
“Adiya said that her mother was putting financial pressure on her, constantly demanding that she send money to her. The girl is apparently bitter with her mother and uncles, over their inability to sponsor her education after the death of her father. She said her sojourn to Lagos was to work, save some money and return to school.
“She admitted using her employer daughter’s photograph, Dr. Nimechi Ugorji (without her knowledge), in the fictitious Facebook account she created, as profile picture. After posting the obituary notice on the account, her uncle downloaded the profile picture and reposted, calling on members of the public who know the person on the photograph to report to the nearest Police Station. ”
