Kehinde Ajayi, mother of seven-year-old Morire Olagoke, whose corpse was found inside a neighbour’s car in Ekiti, recalls her daughter’s last moments in this interview.

Can you tell us what led to your daughter’s death?

On Wednesday morning, I bathed my twins, Morire and Mokore, prepared their meal and served them. I gave them N20 each. They were dressing up when I left home. I left them at home with one of their aunts, who lived with us. Actually, their aunt was supposed to be at my shop, but I decided to go there on Wednesday because the lockdown in Ekiti State was relaxed that day.

As I got downstairs, I realised that I left my bag upstairs. So I called the twins to help me with it. Morire was the one who came with the bag. As I took the bag, I moved on to board a taxi while she headed upstairs. But her twin sister, Mokore, said she did not eventually come upstairs that she (Mokore) went to join her downstairs where they played together that morning.

Mokore had complained that while Morire had N25, she had only N20. They had argued about it until Morire resolved the matter by giving her the extra N5 and Mokore went upstairs to fetch her N20. But she could not find Morire when she returned. She started searching for her, even asked other children in the compound if they had seen her. They replied that they didn’t see her.

Mokore went upstairs to ask their aunt, who was with her child, if she had seen Morire. But she said no. Later their aunt sent me a text message asking why I went to shop without informing her. I knew she only wanted to come and I told her I was at work and she came to meet me at work. But all the while, it was Mokore who was searching for her twin sister.

Their aunt left home at about 12pm. I had planned to go home between 2pm and 3pm to meet them. But I delayed because I was expecting a message from my village. Then I received a call from one of my neighbours telling me that Morire had yet to be found. Their aunt said I should not panic. She said she left the twins at home when she was going out. I quickly headed home. With the traffic and everything, I got home at some minutes past five o’clock. I met some people in groups of two and three looking for Morire. I joined the search party.

Where did you search for the girl?

We searched everywhere. Everywhere I thought Morire could have been, but I could not find her. I went to the police station, but they said they would attend to me after 24 hours. I came back home and insisted that all the rooms in the compound should be searched. By that time, more people had joined us to look for her. As some of us were searching the rooms, others were combing outside. I was in the fourth room when I heard a loud noise outside. Morire had been found. I rushed to the scene only to discover that she had been found dead in a vehicle.

Did you have an argument with anybody in the compound?

I had no argument with anybody. I had a good relationship with everybody in the compound. I had no issue with anybody.

How would you describe your daughter?

She was a very friendly person. She was not the quarrelsome type. She always smiled and was loved wherever she went.

How old was she?

She clocked seven years on April 28. She attended Testimony Nursery and Primary school, at Ajilosun, Ado Ekiti. She was in primary two.

How was Morire’s relationship with her twin sister?

You know the nature of twins – always disagreeing and agreeing. I am also a twin. I know the level to which I disagreed with my twin sister, but we didn’t have to invite anybody to intervene before settling our differences. If Morire did not see her twin sister for two minutes, she would be asking – where is Mokore, where is Mokore? The same thing is applicable to Mokore. They loved each other.

How has Mokore been feeling since the tragic incident occurred?

When I got home that Wednesday and I tried to ask her how it happened, she was weeping profusely. She said, ‘I have been calling Morire since morning o, I have been saying please Morire don’t do this to me. Morire did not answer me’.

What was other people’s disposition toward Morire?

The fact is that the twins were not used to going to other people’s rooms or houses. They were not really interacting with other children in the compound, but everybody liked them.

Can you describe your last moment with her?

The last time I saw her was when I was going to work. But I can remember that on Tuesday night she said she wanted to eat ‘moin-moin’ which we got for her. That Wednesday morning, when I was leaving home, she asked me, ‘Mummy, when will you come back?’ I replied ‘I will soon come”. She knew that I would not stay long whenever I left them at home like that. I gave her money and she was happy. On other occasions, she would cry and insist on following me, but on that fateful day, she was happy and bade me goodbye.

Did you have a premonition of Morire’s death?

She did not act strange. I never had any cause to be suspicious. There was nothing unusual. Some children could be dull or withdrawn or idle or lonely, but there was nothing unusual about her.

What were your plans for her?

She used to tell me she would become a medical doctor. And that was what I was working towards. But it’s unfortunate. I miss my girl. She took after me in everything. She looked exactly like me. She would always tell people that she would be like me in the nearest future because she had my stature.

How do you feel losing her in this circumstance?

You should know how I feel. I have not been the same. I cannot even sleep. If I sit here, it’s like I see her beside me. I remember the way she spoke and the way she walked. I remember everything about her (weeps).

Why do you think anybody would want to kill a child like that?

I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know (repeatedly).

Do you suspect anybody?

I do not really suspect anybody. The issue is confusing because she had never gone to play at the place where her body was found inside the vehicle. She was obedient. She stayed wherever I asked her to stay. Although she was very active, she would not go downstairs or anywhere if I asked her not to.

How was your relationship with the owner of the vehicle in which her body was found?

I have no relationship with him. He is just my neighbour. Sometimes, I don’t see him for up to a week.

What has been his response to the discovery?

I haven’t seen him. He is in detention. Those working in the workshop have been arrested by the police as suspects.

What have the police done about the case so far?

They are still investigating the matter. They have also promised to carry out an autopsy on the body of the girl. They said the autopsy would be useful in their investigations.

What will be your appeal to the police on the matter?

Let justice be done in the matter. The police should help to fish out the culprits in whatever way they can so that they will face justice. Those who killed Morire should not go scot-free. They must be found and prosecuted.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.