A Lagos-based graphic designer and digital marketer, Kingsley Ukanwoke, speaks to ABDULLATEEF FOWEWE about his missing brother and the steps he has taken to locate him

What is your relationship with the missing man?

I’m Kingsley Ukanwoke, I hail from Umuahia South in Abia State, but I am based in Lagos State. I am a graphic designer /digital marketer for a financial company in Lekki, Lagos. I am the immediate elder brother of the missing individual, Edward Ukanwoke, 27 years old.

When was the last time you saw or communicated with your missing brother?

That was on December 21, 2023, in church during our Christmas Carol service at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of Favour Parish, Agboju, Lagos.

Can you provide details about the circumstances surrounding your brother’s disappearance?

Before relocating to Lagos to stay with me, he had been undergoing treatment for a mental health issue that arose in 2021. By June 2023, showing significant improvement in his recovery, I urged my mother to bring him to Lagos. The intention was for him to stay with me and continue with his medication, and thereby relieving my mother of the strain that had taken a toll on her health and work. All went well until that catastrophe day. Up until then, our routine included attending church together, along with my friend who also resides with me. Coincidentally, our church was situated on the same street as our house. He would typically leave us in church and return home after the services. On that particular day, there was no reason to anticipate any deviation from our usual routine. However, upon arriving home around 9:30 pm and reaching out to him for dinner, we were met with an empty room and a plugged-in cell phone. We were so concerned, we initiated a search that night, but our efforts proved futile. After 24 hours passed with no sign of him or any lead, we reported the situation to the nearest police station. Regrettably, to this date, there has been no information regarding his whereabouts.

What was the church’s reaction to the incident?

We conducted a prayer section for him and they joined me in going around the neighbourhood to create awareness.

Were there any recent changes in his behaviour or personal life before he went missing?

Not really. Although we have experienced his anger issues twice. One was when he didn’t want to go to church on Mothering Sunday, and the other day when he didn’t eat on time, and it was unusual of him.

What was the reaction of the Police?

Yes. I have reached out to the Police. I wrote a statement at the Satellite Police Station here in our area and I also paid a sum of N10,000 for them to do a radio broadcast to all the police stations in Lagos, but all to no avail.

I had to go to the police control room in Ikeja myself and report the case; it was radioed before me to all area police stations in Lagos, and the following day, I got a call from the Satellite Police the Divisional Police Officer, asking me to check with the Festac police division, saying they had an unidentified person. I went there but the person they showed me had already killed himself right there and he was not my brother. However, I was able to get the contact of a Deputy Commissioner of Police and also a retired Area Inspector General of police who advised me to see the Lagos state police Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin; I followed the advice and reached out to him and explained everything to him and sought his advice on the way forward. I even had to go back to the control room to radio the case again and I have even visited other police stations within my axis, all to no avail.

Are there any known reasons or factors that might explain his disappearance?

Not at all. He doesn’t have any friends around here in Lagos and his old friends do not know his whereabouts since 2021; So I can’t say there is a specific factor for his disappearance.

Were there any disagreements or conflicts within his personal or professional life before he went missing?

I don’t think he has any disagreement with his personal life because he doesn’t really have any responsibility. However, he is not working as we are more focused on his recovery, and we didn’t have any issues before that event. Also he is an easy-going person.

Have you checked him with his close friends and family?

He didn’t have any friends in Lagos, and it has been a while since he connected with most of his old friends due to his health challenges. Nevertheless, everybody is aware and we have not got any positive information yet.

Did you suspect anyone including your neighbour and your church members?

Not at all, I didn’t suspect anyone, because everyone liked him, and they were on good terms with him. However, everyone was aware and were all in shock by the whole matter.

Have you noticed any unusual financial transactions or changes in his financial behaviour?

Not at all. He has no financial records since 2021. So, there has been nothing like financial transactions in his life since then talk less of unusual ones, I am the one who has been sponsoring him since his health challenge has occurred.

Can you share insights into his educational background and experiences?

He attended Abia State University, from 2014 to 2018, and graduated with a second-class degree in Physics. Subsequently, he observed his National Youth Service in Rivers State the following year. After that, he moved to Owerri to seek greener pastures which was where he developed a mental health issue and he had to come back home to Umuahia to get treated.

How would you describe his relationship with family and friends?

He has a cordial with family and friends. However, during his mental challenge, we had to isolate him from the community due to the discrimination and too much questioning from the insensitive people in our community.

Source: Punch