Family Raises Alarm as Lagos Tutor Vanishes for Nearly a Month After Suspected Malaria Episode

A family in Lagos is desperately searching for 33-year-old private tutor Ashogba Sowedo, who has not been seen since he walked out of his Badagry home on 18 October — an unusually long disappearance that has heightened fears for his safety.

Sowedo, a father of one who supplements his income with a small phone-charging business, has a history of going missing during bouts of severe malaria. According to relatives, the illness sometimes leaves him confused or disoriented, causing him to wander off before eventually finding his way home.

His uncle, Setonji Adele, told our correspondent on Monday that the family initially refrained from sounding the alarm because similar episodes had occurred in the past.

“We haven’t reported it to the police because this isn’t the first time. He sometimes leaves home and later finds his way back,” Adele explained.
But the worry escalated when nearly a month passed without any trace of him — far longer than previous disappearances.

Sowedo had complained of malaria shortly before he went missing. Around the same period, strange WhatsApp messages were sent to his estranged wife, and a mysterious status update appeared on his account three days after he vanished. Family members say repeated calls to his mobile line rang out unanswered, raising fears that someone else might be in possession of his phone — something that reportedly occurred during a previous disappearance.

Adele said the family is now considering reporting the case formally to the police so the device can be tracked.

Adding to the alarm, a resident who spotted Sowedo the Monday after he went missing said he appeared disoriented and nearly walked into oncoming traffic.

Sowedo is described as dark-complexioned and of average height.
Anyone with useful information has been urged to contact 09021348576 or report to the nearest police station.