Sopuruchi Onwuka, with agency report

A county official in Nairobi, Geoffrey Mosiria, is appealing for information about a Nigerian national, Ekene Ofia, whose whereabouts are currently unknown after he reportedly disappeared while awaiting assistance.

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According to Kenyan media outlet Tuko, Mosiria is asking members of the public, especially Nigerians living in Kenya, to help locate Ofia so that support can be provided.

Ofia, who is from Anambra State in Nigeria, has reportedly been stranded in Kenya for about two years after the cousin who brought him to the country left for the United States.

In a video shared by Mosiria, Ofia said he travelled to Kenya after his cousin promised to sponsor his master’s degree at the Pan African University. However, two weeks after he arrived, his cousin allegedly failed to enroll him in school and soon moved abroad.

“He told me he would travel after enrolling me in school, but he didn’t,” Ofia said. “I think he used the money meant for my education to cover his own travel to America.”

With no support and limited resources, Ofia said he ended up living on the streets, often sleeping on a verandah and using a sack of his clothes as a pillow. He also said he had taken on occasional menial jobs just to afford food.

According to Ofia, returning home has been difficult because his passport has expired, preventing him from travelling back to Nigeria.

During their interaction, Mosiria expressed concern that Ofia might be suffering from depression or other mental health challenges. He offered to help him get professional help by taking him to a rehabilitation centre for a mental health assessment.

Mosiria said he arranged temporary accommodation for Ofia at a hotel and paid for his meals, planning to take him to the facility the next day. However, by the following morning, Ofia had reportedly left the hotel and his whereabouts have since been unknown.

The Nairobi County official has now appealed to anyone who may have information about Ofia’s location to come forward.

He also urged Nigerians in Kenya and other well-wishers to support efforts to help the stranded man rebuild his life.