The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 19-year-old girl for faking her own death to escape financial pressure from her mother.
Margaret Adiya was said to have conspired with two friends to carry out the action before the truth was revealed to her family by the conspirators.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Lagos State Police Command spokesman, Bala Elkana, on Sunday
The statement said the suspect was arrested following a petition signed by one Tony Iji on behalf of the family of Ms Adiya from Oni community in Oju Local Government Area of Benue State.
According to the statement: “The petitioners stated that their attention was drawn to a post on Facebook stating that the said Margaret Adiya died few days ago and was secretly buried by her two friends Marvelous Mary and Nneka Buddy at Ajah area.
“The family further stated that they were able to establish contact with the said friends who confirmed to them that their daughter is dead. That they were instructed by Margaret not to allow members of her family know anything about her death and that they were authorised by the deceased person to secretly bury her.
“To make them believe that the girl is dead, they sent WhatsApp chats to a member of the girl’s family with picture of a casket showing that the girl is buried. The known phone number of the girl is permanently switched off. The family also got in touch with a man on phone who claimed to be her boyfriend. He corroborated the claim that she is dead.”
Elkana stated that Margaret was eventually found alive by the police working as a housemaid in an estate at Ajah area of Lagos State.
He said it was her employer who informed the police and took her to Ajah Police Station when the news of her purported death filtered.
“In her statement, she confessed to have created the Facebook account and posted her obituary with intent to keep her family away from her. That her mother was putting financial pressure on her, constantly demanding that she send money to her.
“The girl is apparently bitter with her mother and uncles, over their inability to sponsor her education after the death of her father. Her sojourn to Lagos is to work, save some money and return to school.
“She admitted using her employer daughter’s photograph Dr Nimechi Ugorji (without her knowledge) in the fictitious Facebook account she created, as profile picture. After posting the obituary notice on the account, her uncle downloaded the profile picture and reposted, calling on members of the public who know the person on the photograph to report to the nearest police station,”Elkana added.
The police spokesman said investigation is still ongoing on the matter.