Esther Salifu
A 15-year-old candidate for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), Esther Oluwafayofubmi Oladele, went missing while traveling from Epe to Ajah, Lagos has been found safe.
On Thursday, Esther was en route to her examination center when she sent a distress message to her sibling, stating, “I’m scared. I think I entered the wrong car. My eyes are itchy and I feel sleepy.” The unsettling message prompted immediate action from her family, who reported the incident to the Ajiwe Police Station in Ajah.
The following day, a relative identified as Johnson took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to amplify the search efforts, urging the public to assist in locating Esther. The post quickly gained traction, with many expressing concern and sharing the information to broaden the search.
In a subsequent update on Saturday, Johnson confirmed that Esther had returned home. Details surrounding her disappearance and return remain unclear, but the incident has sparked discussions about student safety, especially for young individuals commuting alone in Lagos.
This event follows a similar incident reported by The Sun Nigeria, where another female UTME candidate was robbed and pushed out of a moving bus in Lagos.
As the UTME continues across the nation, stakeholders are calling for increased awareness and safety protocols to ensure the well-being of all candidates.
