My four-year-old son went missing during Lagos demolition exercise – Father

Four-year-old Hazeem, vanished during the chaos that engulfed Oke Baba, a slum in Ebute Metta, Lagos, during a recent state government demolition exercise. His devastated father, Idris Malik, recounting the tragic events to TEMITOPE ADETUNJI, speaks of the daily agony of living with the uncertainty of his son’s fate—whether he is alive or dead, and how the harrowing ordeal is pushing his wife deeper into depression

Can you narrate the incidents that led to the disappearance of your son?

On September 15, the day the Lagos State government came with bulldozers and its officials to demolish our homes in Ebute Metta, I was with Malik and three other children, all younger than him.

It was in the morning and several policemen invaded the area. They began to destroy and burn peoples’ homes. When all this was going on, my son told me he was hungry, and I promised to get him some food.

I asked him to stay with the three younger boys because the place where I could get the food was not far from our house—it was just a few minutes away.

As I reached the food seller’s shop, suddenly, I heard that the policemen had fired tear gas. I panicked and rushed back to my son, who was standing with the other boys. Shockingly, when I got to where they were, my son was nowhere to be found, though the other three boys were still there. I asked them where my son had gone, but they couldn’t explain. They are very young, even younger than my son. Since then, my son’s disappearance has remained a mystery. I asked people around if they had seen him, but no one had.

What did you do immediately after you found out that your son was missing?

I went to Denton Police Station, which is the nearest to us at about 4 p.m. because, by then, it had become obvious that he was missing. When I got to the police station, I was asked to write a statement and told they would broadcast the news over their radio, two-way radio and Emergency Alert Systems, which they did. However, before the news was aired, I was told to go to different police stations to further file a missing person report. They said that, by law, they can only take further action after 24 hours.

Since the reports were filed and broadcast on police radio transmitters, I haven’t heard anything.

How do you feel about this situation?

I feel shattered and unhappy.  First, our house was demolished, and secondly, it was during the demolition that my son went missing, just like that. It is a huge shock for me and my family.

It’s an indescribable pain and every single day, I wake up hoping it was all just a terrible nightmare, and that Hazeem will run into my arms with his innocent smile. But instead, I’m met with silence. The uncertainty, not knowing if he’s safe, if he’s alive, eats at me constantly.

It’s like a part of my soul is missing, and there’s nothing I can do to fill that void.

Watching my wife struggle with the pain of losing a son and sinking deeper into depression, only makes it worse for me. We are both trapped in a nightmare with no end in sight.

Have you had any issues or conflicts with anyone recently?

I have no conflicts with anyone, absolutely none. I am a peaceful person, and my wife is very calm and easygoing as well. I even asked her if there could be any misunderstandings or issues with anyone, and she assured me that there was nothing like that. We both live quietly, just trying to raise our family without any trouble.

What do you suspect could have happened to your son?

I honestly don’t have an idea. I just feel someone might have kidnapped him.

How did your wife react to the news?

She’s completely shattered. The pain consumes her more deeply than it does me, and it’s been an unbearable journey for both of us. I’m doing everything I can to keep her strong, but it’s like we’re trapped in a nightmare. My wife, a hairdresser, was with our first daughter when it happened. They weren’t far, just trying to stay close. My son, though, always wanted to be with me. He refused to stay with his mother, and sometimes, he’d cry until he could follow me. Now, with him gone, it’s a weight that’s pulling my wife into a dark place. She’s slipping into depression, and it’s tearing us apart.

We’ve been to several churches, mosques, and different places. They all told me my son would be found. I am trying to hold on to that faith but for how long will I continue to wait?

What form of support have you received from your family and friends since your son went missing?

They have all been quite supportive and trying their best to be there to do what they can, especially in terms of emotional support.

They’ve taken me to different places. If I want to go anywhere in search of my son, they will go with me.

What kind of assistance do you need most right now?

I desperately need the help of kind-hearted individuals to find my son. I am also appealing to the Lagos State government to assist in locating him. Financial assistance is another pressing need because our home was demolished during the exercise, leaving us homeless. We’ve been moving from place to place, squatting with friends and relatives, and it’s been an extremely difficult time for my family.

What do you think could have been done to prevent the incident?

If the policemen hadn’t fired the tear gas, maybe I would have found my son. The smoke filled the area so quickly that it became impossible to see. My vision blurred as my eyes began to sting, and in those crucial few minutes, everything was lost. There were no traces of him—just thick smoke, confusion, and a terrible sinking feeling that something was wrong. Those moments of chaos still haunt me, knowing that my son was right there before everything became a blur.

Has anyone contacted you demanding a ransom for your son’s return?

No, I haven’t received any ransom demands. However, a few weeks ago, someone called, claiming they had spotted my son in Ikorodu. They asked for N3,000 upfront, but it felt like a scam. The person couldn’t answer basic questions about my son or provide any proof. It seemed like they were just trying to take advantage of our situation. Right now, we don’t even have the money to give, as my wife, daughter, and I are homeless after our house was demolished. We’ve been struggling just to get by.