The peaceful atmosphere of Surulere Aguda has been shattered by the disappearance of 14-year-old Princess Halimat Tajudeen, an SSS2 student cherished for her amiable nature and passion for literature.
Princess, described by her mother, Mrs. Stella Timothy, as gentle and fair-skinned, went missing on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, leaving her family distraught.
The last time Princess was seen was around 5:15 pm that day, when she visited her mother’s shop after school.
In a heartfelt interview, Mrs. Timothy, who sells biscuits, pure water, and sweets to children, recounted the moments leading up to her daughter’s disappearance.
“Princess came to my shop after school. I asked her to withdraw twenty-three thousand naira from Fidelity Bank, which is just a street away from our house. She left around 5:30 pm, and by 6:35 pm, I received the alert confirming the withdrawal. I assumed she was on her way back, but she never returned,” Mrs. Timothy recounted, her voice fraught with worry.
The mystery deepened when Mrs. Timothy received a series of distressing phone calls from hidden numbers. The callers, who claimed to have Princess, demanded a ransom of five million naira.
“I received a call from a thick voice asking if I was the one with the girl. When I confirmed, he said, ‘Now we’re coming.’ They later demanded one million naira after reducing the initial amount,” Mrs. Timothy said, her hands trembling.
“Since my daughter went missing, I’ve been like a deflated balloon. I haven’t eaten, slept, or even been able to think straight. All I need is for my daughter to return alive,” she pleaded.
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