Family pleads for release of stowaway boy

The family members of 13-year old stowaway boy, who flew from Benin to
Lagos inside the wheel compartment of an aircraft, has appealed for
his release form custody.
Daniel Oikhena, a Junior Secondary School (JSS) II student, attracted
attention when he ‘flew’ on Arik aircraft on August 24.
Sonia Oikhena, elder sister of the stowaway boy, made the appeal at a
news conference in Benin, Edo State on Saturday.
Sonia said they were worried that Daniel was still in detention eight
days after the dramatic event.
She urged the Federal Government to order the security agencies to
release the youngster to his family.
She expressed concern that there had been no contact with the family
by those holding Daniel.
She said: “The only contact the family had with the security agents
was when the SSS in Benin invited our mother for questioning.”
This, Sonia stressed, had placed the family in a difficult situation
over the issue.
She added: “There has been no word from the security agencies as to
where the boy was being detained or his state of health.
“We are worried and do not know where my brother is and his present
health condition after flying in such a risky position.
“My brother should not be held culpable over the security lapses at the airport.
“If there had been tight security at the airport, he wouldn’t have
succeeded in taking that risk of flying through the wheel of an
aircraft.”
On his part, Desmond, (9), the immediate younger brother, appealed for
his brother’s release “because he acted out of ignorance.”
Desmond said he was not however surprised when the news came to them
last Sunday that Daniel was in Lagos.
Desmond said his brother got the idea of hiding inside the wheel of an
aircraft from foreign movies he often watched.
He said: “Daniel has been telling us about plans to travel to America
by hiding inside the wheel compartment of an aircraft.
“We slept in the same room the night before the incident and we were
surprised when he woke up so early.
“He packed his school bag, removed the books and replaced them with
some of his clothes and hung his rosary on his neck.
“He quietly walked out without anybody knowing his destination.
“When my mother started looking for him, I told her to go to the
airport to search for him based on what he has been telling us.
“I want my brother released to us.
“We are missing him and want him back home.
“My family is not happy over the continued detention of our brother.
“He is just a child and must have acted out of ignorance.
“He needs brotherly love and guidance.
“We are appealing to those responsible for his detention to please
consider us because we have no money to fight any case.”