Two-year-old Excel Forte, daughter of Agnes, a visually impaired woman, who was reported missing on November 28, 2023, has been found.
According to The PUNCH, Excel disappeared while in the care of her 13-year-old step-sister, Joy, from their home in the Akowonjo area of Lagos State.
Agnes, alarmed by their sudden disappearance, recounted the moment the children went missing.
She explained that while the girls were playing in the corridor outside their apartment, she was inside the room. When the usual sounds of their voices faded, she became concerned, and her efforts to locate them proved futile.
The frantic search for Excel and Joy came to a surprising end when Agnes’ mother-in-law received an unexpected call from an orphanage located in the Bariga area of Lagos.
Agnes pointed out that the orphanage confirmed that the children were safe within their facility.
“We searched everywhere for them and couldn’t find any trace. It was only when my mother-in-law received a call from the orphanage that we found out where they were,” Agnes shared. “The staff at the orphanage said they would get back to us with more details, and later informed us that the kids were staying at the facility around Lady Lak in Bariga.”
John, the children’s father, further elaborated on the situation. He explained that a police officer had discovered the two girls wandering around Ago Palace Way the day after they vanished.
The officer questioned the children and eventually brought them to the Alakara Police Station. From there, they were transferred to the orphanage.
However, what puzzled the family was Joy’s behavior. According to John, when Joy arrived at the orphanage, she intentionally withheld details about her identity and background. It was only three months later that she finally opened up, providing enough information for the orphanage to contact her grandmother.
“I went to the orphanage and found them there. I was told that they were found wandering and a policewoman took them to the welfare center. Joy, however, didn’t disclose any information about where she came from until months later when she finally gave them my mother’s contact,” John revealed.
The process of reuniting with the children wasn’t immediate, as John explained that it took several weeks before the orphanage released them into his custody. Legal paperwork, including a court order granting custody, had to be finalized before the children could be returned home.
Despite being reunited, the mystery surrounding Joy’s actions remains unsolved. John has questioned his daughter numerous times about why she chose to leave home and take her younger sister with her, but she has yet to offer any explanation.
“I’ve asked her repeatedly, but she hasn’t given any reason for her actions,” he said. “We initially thought she had been talking to a stranger before leaving that day, but she claims she was only speaking to her grandmother.”
