There was wild jubilation in the Oviri Ogor community, located in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, as an octogenarian who had been missing for three days was found alive in a faraway forest.
The elderly man, known as Pa James (not his real name), disappeared on Monday, October 14, 2024, after his family left him at home. When they returned later that evening and could not locate him, they initially assumed he had gone to visit friends. However, as night fell and heavy rain poured down, concern grew when he still hadn’t returned.
A source within the community explained, “At first, we thought he might have been caught up somewhere because of the rain, but when it got late and there was no sign of him, his family became worried. They searched his friends’ homes, but he wasn’t there. That’s when they raised the alarm.”
Pa James is well-known and beloved in the community, and news of his disappearance sent shockwaves through Oviri Ogor. Local youths immediately organized search parties, scouring the village and nearby areas, including the surrounding forests. Despite their efforts, they did not find him that night and decided to resume the search the next morning.
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The search extended to neighboring communities, with the youth informing nearby villages of Pa James’ disappearance. Fear mounted due to his occasional drinking habits, with many believing he might have wandered off after consuming alcohol and lost his way.
On Wednesday, a farmer from Ewu, a nearby community in Ughelli South Local Government Area, discovered Pa James in the forest and escorted him to Ejekota, where word of his disappearance had already spread. From there, the elderly man was returned home safely.
His return sparked immense celebration in Oviri Ogor, with the entire community gathering to celebrate with singing, dancing, and drinking well into the night. Many regarded his survival in the forest, especially amid continuous heavy rains, as nothing short of a miracle.
Though there is no clear explanation as to how he went missing, it is believed that he may have lost his way after consuming alcohol and wandering off the main path.
