Lagos amputee story becomes messy as govt withdraws N25m donation

Miss Mary Daniel, a young lady amputee recently found in Oshodi, Lagos, hawking ‘pure water’ and told a pathetic story that immediately elicited help from many, may end up in jail for feeding Nigerians with lies about herself just to extort.

Apart from the N25m public-spirited Nigerians donated after seeing her pitiable picture on social media and listening to her story, the Lagos State Government has also announced a donation of N25m for her rehabilitation.

But the table seems to have turned against her as the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has not only withdrawn the state government’s donation but handed her over to the officials of the state social welfare in the presence of the police for investigation.

The amputee had claimed she lost a leg in an accident that killed all other passengers, including her parents in an accident when she was a teenager.

But it has now been found that she did not lose her leg in any accident. Indeed, her father has been confirmed to be alive.

A report by The Nation indicated that after receiving the generous donations, the lady had been receiving strange calls from those who staged her story, threatening to reveal spill the beans unless she gave them their share of the money.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, confirmed that the young lady was in the custody of the social welfare unit.

He said, “The police were there but she was not handed over to us. She was handed over to the Social Welfare.

“There were irregularities and lies in the account of her life she gave. It was discovered that contrary to her claim that her parents died during an accident that left her amputated, her father is very much alive and that she was amputated from birth.

“It was also discovered that her presence in Oshodi was staged. Those working with her played on the intelligence of Nigerians to get donations for her. It came to light when the people started threatening her. She promised some N500,000; others different amounts and was planning to return to her home state when the information leaked.

“I had to attach some policemen to her to prevent any attack on her when she went to the bank. We suspected those people might follow her but everything went well as they were not seen.

“Presently, the state government is preventing her from accessing the money. The government does not want a situation where it will become a trend for people to cook up stories, manipulate the people to get donations.”