After nearly a year-long search, two-year-old Excel Forte, the daughter of Agnes, a visually impaired woman, has been found. Excel, who disappeared along with her 13-year-old stepsister Joy on November 28, 2023, was located in Lagos.
According to reports, Excel was last seen playing with Joy near their home in Akowonjo, Lagos State, while Agnes was inside. Agnes realized something was wrong when she could no longer hear the girls. Despite efforts to find them, their whereabouts remained unknown for 10 months.
Speaking on the matter, Agnes confirmed that the children were finally found in an orphanage located in Bariga. She explained that her mother-in-law received a call from the orphanage, informing them that the children were under their care.
Agnes said, “We have been searching for them since they disappeared, but all efforts failed. My mother-in-law got a call saying the children were at an orphanage in Lady Lak, Bariga.”
Her husband, John, revealed that the children had been rescued by a police officer after they were found wandering around Ago Palace Way a day after leaving home. The officer took them to a welfare center, and they were later transferred to the orphanage. John shared that Joy initially refused to disclose any personal details to the authorities.
“I went to the orphanage and found them there. They were wandering when a policewoman found them and took them to the Alakara Police Station. From there, they were transferred to the orphanage. Joy didn’t reveal her background until three months ago when she finally provided contact information for my mother,” John explained.
John also mentioned that it took several weeks to complete the legal procedures required to bring the children home, including obtaining a court order granting custody.
When asked if Joy provided any explanation for their disappearance, John said she hadn’t shared her reasons. “I’ve asked her many times, but she hasn’t said why. We suspected she was communicating with someone before leaving, but she claims it was her grandmother she was talking to.”
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