Joel, Chisom, and Esther were sent on an errand by their parents, minutes before Dana Air Flight 0992 crashed into their home
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has rescued and taken custody of three kids whose parents have been missing since the Dana Airlines Flight 0992 aircraft crashed into their Iju-Ishaga neighbourhood on Sunday.
The children; Joel Okechukwu (11), Chisom Okechukwu (9) and Esther Okechukwu, whose age could not be immediately ascertained, were wandering around when they were spotted and rescued by the governor during his visit to the site on Monday. They were evacuated to the government house.
It was gathered that the kids had been sent on errands by their parents, Jeremiah Okechukwu and Josephine Okechukwu, when the aircraft hit their home and reduced it to rubble.
Aderemi Ibirogba, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, said the government has embarked on a search for any relatives of the children, adding that they would remain with the governor until some of their relatives were identified.
“It is so unfortunate that we cannot find the parents,” he said. “However, Joel, the eldest of the kids, has mentioned to us a particular uncle of theirs. He said the uncle’s name is Anthony Okechukwu and that he lives in Abuja. We are trying to establish links with him and inform him of the situation of the kids. We want the public to help us in this search.
Of course, the governor is very willing to assist the kids, but the government thinks we should still know their relations. The kids are safe and they are being taken care of at Government House.”
Ibirogba said the children had passed Sunday night in the home of a neighbour in the area, before they were seen and picked up by the governor during his visit to the scene of the crash on Monday.
Flight 0992 crashed on Sunday, minutes after the pilot had radioed the control tower and requested for an emergency landing. Over 153 people were onboard the aircraft. It is also estimated that over 10 people were inside the house that the plane crashed into.
Over 70 bodies have been recovered from the wreckage; as rescue workers have continued work. The plane’s black box has also been recovered.
President Goodluck Jonathan, who visited the site on Monday afternoon, demanded a thorough investigation of circumstances that led to the tragedy, and assured Nigerians of his administration’s commitment to making air travel safer in the country.
