Esther Oluwafayofunmi Oladele, a 17-year-old candidate for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), who went missing while traveling from Ajah to Epe in Lagos, was found safe in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, on Saturday, April 26, 2025, after a harrowing 24-hour ordeal. The news of her safe return, confirmed by her brother Johnson (@Mayorjohnson1 on X) and the Lagos State Police Command, brought relief to her family and sparked widespread celebration online, with the hashtag #LostButFound trending on X.
Esther’s disappearance began on Thursday, April 24, 2025, when she left her home in Ajah around 1 p.m. to stay with a family friend in Epe, ahead of her JAMB exam scheduled for 9 a.m. on Friday. While en route, she sent a distressing text to a sibling, stating, “I’m scared. I think I entered the wrong car. My eyes are itchy and I feel sleepy,” raising fears of possible abduction or intoxication. Her family reported the incident to the Ajiwe Police Station in Ajah, where officers initiated investigations and advised the family to pursue independent search efforts. “They advised us not to depend entirely on the police and to continue independent efforts to locate her,” Johnson noted.
The case gained traction on X, with users like @EduEle5 and @olayinkamiasake amplifying Johnson’s plea for help, leading to thousands of retweets and posts on WhatsApp. Influencer Enioluwa Adeoluwa also weighed in, criticizing JAMB’s early 6:30 a.m. exam timings as unsafe, arguing they expose young candidates to risks, especially given Nigeria’s security challenges. By Saturday morning, Johnson announced, “We FOUND MY KID SIS (ESTHER). Thank God Thank Y’all Esther was dropped at Ijebu ode this morning,” sharing a photo of Esther’s safe return. The Lagos State Police Command corroborated this, stating, “Miss Esther Oladele, previously reported missing, has been safely located and reunited with her family,” in posts on X at 6:53 p.m. and 6:56 p.m. on April 26.
Details of Esther’s ordeal remain unclear, with her family yet to disclose how she ended up in Ijebu Ode, approximately 80 kilometers from Lagos, or the circumstances of her being “dropped off.” X users, including @Oluwanishola_, urged the family to share her story to raise awareness, with comments like, “If she could share her story, this can help others to stay vigilant.” Speculation about JAMB’s exam logistics also surfaced, particularly after the board’s April 26 statement denying misposting candidates to distant centers. JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, dismissed such claims as “malicious” and offered a financial reward for evidence of misposting, amid suggestions that Esther’s travel to Epe may have been due to unclear center assignments.
Esther’s rescue, credited to community vigilance and social media‘s reach, has reignited debates about UTME logistics and candidate safety. Stakeholders, including the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), whose post (@fccpcnigeria) shared JAMB’s statement, are calling for clearer center assignments, robust security, and later exam timings. The incident, covered by Daily Post, TheCable, Legit.ng, and Linda Ikeji’s Blog, highlighted vulnerabilities faced by young candidates, with Esther’s case echoing past incidents like the 2023 disappearance of UTME candidate Elizabeth Ojerinola in Ogun State.
For now, Esther’s family expressed gratitude, stating, “Words cannot express our gratitude to everyone who played a part in bringing her back. Your reposts, prayers, and unwavering support gave us strength and hope.” As the 2025 UTME continues, her story underscores the need for systemic improvements to protect candidates, with her safe return a testament to collective action and hope amid Nigeria’s challenges.
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