An Osun State indigene, Rahman Hammed, tells OPEYEMI ADEFEMI how his mother ‘disappeared’ with his siblings about 13 years ago following the death of his aged father
Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Rahman Hammed. I am from Osogbo. I am into building construction. I am married and have a child.
In a recent social media post, you said your mum and siblings disappeared some years ago, leaving you behind after the death of your dad. What exactly happened?
The story started in 2009 when I lost my dad. I am from a polygamous family. As I was told, my dad had a small house before he married my mum. After they got married, he built a bigger house that we all call our family house now. When my dad died on June 15, 2009, my mum went to the family house to do her rites as a wife. The first son of the family insisted that my mum wouldn’t be allowed to enter the house. People around defended my mum and asked if the firstborn was doing all of that because his mother, who was the first wife, had died. That night it was a lot of trouble. They begged him before he eventually let my mum in.
Then my mum started her mourning period — the 90 days of staying at home without going anywhere. I was in SS1 and the whole thing happened during our holidays. My mum gave me her phone to play with so that I would not be brooding over my dad’s death. She then gave me money to go to her sister’s place in Ikeji Arakeji to spend my holidays. Around July 8 or 10, I got a call from my maternal grandmother, telling me that my mum and my two siblings, Morenikeji and Ismail, were missing. I was really confused because after the 40th day prayer for my dad was done at the family house, my mum went back to her mum’s house at Okinni to continue the mourning period. Grandma told me that she (grandma) went to the market, leaving my mum and siblings at home. She said while she was at the market, my younger sister came to meet her, saying my mum told her to collect N1,500 from her (grandma). Grandma said she gave my little sister the money and she went back home. However, when grandma got back home from the market, she didn’t see my mum and my siblings, Morenikeji and Ismail. She waited for them to return but they never did.
All efforts to locate them proved abortive and it was since that day that we have been searching for them. My mum was 39 years old at the time of the incident.
What is your mum’s name?
Her name is Modinat Tijani from Akinode Compound in Okinni, Osun State. My two siblings are Idayat and Ismail. Their surnames could be Lamidi or Hammed, depending on which name they decided to use. Lamidi is our grandfather’s name while Hammed is my dad’s name. My grandma is popularly known as Iya Eleja at Okinni while my mom’s younger brother is popularly known as Owonikoko.
What efforts were made to search for your mum and siblings then?
My mum is her parents’ first child and she has four sisters. They have spent a fortune on trying to find her. Everything possible has been done. We consulted alfas, pastors and even went on TV stations many times. We even went to traditionalists. We were told by our spiritual fathers that she is still alive. I made the social media post out of frustration. I even thought of making a movie with the story. I met Lateef Adedimeji but I couldn’t afford the bill. I know that the whole event is spiritual.
In 2015, someone who didn’t know we were looking for my mum came to Osogbo and said he saw my mum at a party. He wanted to take her phone number but she said she was very busy. Before he could look for her again, she had left. If he had known we were searching for her, he would have done everything to get her contact or to even know where she lives. That gave us some relief and encouragement that she is still alive.
What happened to your dad; how did he die?
My dad was sick; he was 75 years old when he passed away.
Did you get any inheritance from your dad’s properties?
No, I didn’t get any. What happened made me distance myself from the family.
Does your dad’s family know that your mum is missing?
To the best of my knowledge, they don’t knows she is missing. I have never given them the impression that I am looking for my mum. Whenever they get in touch and ask about her, I just tell them that she doing alright. Who will I tell? The person I should have told is the one allegedly behind it.
Has anyone ever contacted you since you made the post on social media?
Someone called me on Monday and said she knows my mum. She called from Magboro (Ogun State). She knew my mum in Ketu (Lagos) in 2019. She said she used to buy fish from my mum. She moved from Ketu environs when her husband completed their house around Mowe. So she doesn’t really go to Ketu again. I asked her how she knew the person is the same person in the photo I posted. She told me the woman has a daughter called Morenikeji and I confirmed that I have a sister called Morenikeji. She promised me that she will try to go to Ketu to see if my mum is still there. So, she can be 100 per cent sure before I will come down to meet her.
What do you think might have made your mum disappear?
It’s a spiritual attack because of my dad’s properties. We have been told that many times. I just know that the whole event is not ordinary. She is someone who cares about everyone. Her parents were still alive when she disappeared. My maternal grandfather passed away in 2018. She couldn’t have abandoned her kids and still abandon her own parents for no reason. Sometimes I wonder if she had the journey or her disappearance planned out; but then, I am somehow convinced that she couldn’t have just abandoned her parents and us, her children, just like that. My mum loved all of us. She couldn’t have abandoned us like that. Even if she planned this event, she should have come back home after 10 years to check her parents, which she never did. I keep staying strong. I won’t give up on her while I am still alive. She sacrificed for me while we were together.
How hopeful are you that you will someday see your mum and siblings?
I am very hopeful. Some people encouraged me not to give up and they even shared their own story. The person told me that he searched for his father for 28 years and they met recently. I am not giving up on my mum.
