The Lagos State Police Command has stated that no formal complaint has been filed regarding the alleged disappearance of six women following a house party in the Lekki area over the weekend.
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Oluyemisi Ojo, of the Area J Command (Elemoro), confirmed on Thursday that despite widespread concern on X.com (formerly Twitter) and calls for police intervention, there has been no official report or request for an investigation from friends, family, or witnesses.
The situation gained public attention after a less-than-one-minute video was shared by @MacDanielsBlog on December 1, 2024. In the video, a woman recounted how seven women attended a party, with one escaping after returning to retrieve a forgotten wig. She revealed that the remaining six were allegedly driven off, leaving their phones unreachable and their whereabouts unknown.
This incident has sparked outrage online, with Nigerians criticizing the police for their perceived inaction despite numerous checkpoints across Lagos. Many have called for immediate investigation and public reassurance regarding the missing women’s safety.
The police, however, reiterated the importance of filing a formal complaint to enable a structured investigation, urging anyone with information to come forward.
“Six girls in Lekki have gone missing. They were invited to a private house party, and no one had heard from them. Their lines no longer go through, and their friends can’t reach them.
“Only one person survived because she went back to get her hair. When she returned, they were gone. They (the ladies) were supposed to be seven for the house party, but they took six. The six girls are missing.
“Beware of people. Stop meeting new people on the island or in Lekki. They’ll use you for rituals. Many are returning to Nigeria to perform rituals, and they’ll use you. Be very careful,” the lady warned.
In response to our correspondent’s questions on Thursday, Ojo clarified that no one had filed a complaint regarding the six missing girls.
She further noted that the state police command had attempted to contact the social media user who posted the information to assist with the investigation, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
She said, “We haven’t received any reports of such. We are taking it upon ourselves to search for the social media informant so we can get details.”
Despite the recent increase in cases of abductions of women for extortion and ritual purposes in Lagos and Ogun states, the woman in the viral video did not provide details about the party’s location, the names of the victims, or when the incident occurred.
It was reported that the Ogun State Police spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, on Wednesday, linked many cases of missing young women to ritual practices, with a growing connection to the rising hookup culture in the country.
She said, “This particular menace is very serious and I would like a lot of young people to understand the danger in the hookup culture. Today, we have lots of reports of missing persons. By the time we start an investigation, not less than 10 young girls and ladies go missing daily.”