DSS quizzes 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.
”