Deceit: Lagos State Government hands over amputee hawker to police over false claims

Following an inconsistency in the story of an amputee sachet water hawker, Mary Daniels, 26, who recently received donations from Nigerians as a result of her condition, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has ordered the appropriate ministry to turn the matter over to the state Police Command for further investigation.

Nigerians were moved by Daniels’ viral story on social media, which elicited worldwide sympathy and concern.

Mr Gbenga Omotoso, the state commissioner for information and strategy, did not respond to calls and text messages sent to his mobile phone when contacted for comment at press time.

However, a government source who requested anonymity told Daily Times that Governor Sanwo-Olu issued the order on Wednesday after it was discovered that Daniels’ story was staged and untrue after all.

The cat was let out of the bag when it was revealed that the story had to have been made up as a result of mysterious calls Daniels had been getting from a team who had played a key role in her success in Lagos.

Following the finding, it was reported that the governor directed that a Kogi traditional leader in Lagos, as well as the Irede Base, investigate the story further and keep an eye on her movements.

Meanwhile, the governor has ordered the governor’s Office of Special Adviser on Civic Engagement to manage the case and carry it through to the end.

Daniels was then handed over to the traditional leader and other agencies on Wednesday, with approximately N25 million in her personal account.

The amputee’s previous accounts were found to be contradictory, along with suspicious phone calls from people believed to be those she worked for prior to her discovery.

The state government’s interventions became appropriate after inquiries found that the amputee was not telling the truth about herself and the life she had been living since receiving public assistance and government interference.

The situation came to light when some of the people with whom Daniels had a contract began calling regularly, requesting their own share of the public donations Daniels had got, or they would reveal her.

Daniel’s claims that she was an orphan and that her parents died in an accident were found to be unfounded, and her scenes in Oshodi were reportedly staged.

According to the source, it was discovered during interrogations that the amputee’s father was still alive, despite Daniel’s initial assertion that she had lost both parents in an accident many years ago.

Following several hours of investigation into her account, the official added that it was discovered that the sachet water hawker’s mother did indeed die, but not in an auto accident as Daniel claimed after arriving in Oshodi last month.

At press time, attempts were underway to contact the state police command for clarification.