NEWS
Anambra Woman Sparks Concern After Trekking for Weeks Towards Togo, Rejects Offer to Return Home to Nigeria
A woman identified as Chioma Ezeme from Oko in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State has sparked widespread concern after she was reportedly intercepted in Ogun State while trekking towards Lomé, the capital of Togo, following weeks on the road.
Chioma’s unusual journey has attracted significant attention on social media after a video emerged showing her encounter with a good Samaritan who approached her, expressed concern over her safety and offered to help her return home.
However, the woman reportedly declined the offer, insisting that she was an adult capable of making decisions about her own life.
In the now-trending video, Chioma identified herself and explained that she was travelling on foot from Anambra State to Lomé, a journey that would require her to cover hundreds of kilometres across several locations. Carrying a handbag and a bottle of water, she was seen engaging in a conversation with the man who stopped to assist her. During their interaction, he expressed concern about the considerable distance she had already covered, the long journey still ahead and the potential dangers of travelling such a distance on foot.
Chioma maintained that Lomé was her intended destination and explained that she planned to find her way towards Togo through the Seme Border. She reportedly explained that she intended to continue her journey after passing through Sagamu, although the route she described appeared to reflect a limited understanding of the distance and travel requirements involved.
According to her account, she had spent approximately one month trekking before reaching Ogun State, where the concerned man encountered her and attempted to persuade her to abandon the journey. The man reportedly offered to help reunite her with her family, but Chioma remained reluctant to accept the assistance, asking to be left alone and maintaining that her decision was personal. The encounter became even more concerning when she disclosed that she had lost her mobile phone and could not recall the telephone number of any family member who could be contacted to establish her whereabouts and facilitate communication with her relatives.
Chioma also revealed that her parents were deceased, further maintaining that her decision to travel to Togo was a personal matter unrelated to her family. Despite the circumstances surrounding her journey, she spoke fluent English in the video, a detail that has drawn additional attention from viewers trying to understand her background and the events that may have led to her decision to embark on the journey.
Investigations by journalist, Izunna Okafor reportedly identified Chioma as a native of Okeani village in Oko, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State. Her identity was also reportedly corroborated by social media users, including individuals who claimed to have attended school with her. Some of those who recognised her described her as an exceptionally brilliant student during her school years.
Further accounts indicated that Chioma had previously worked as a civil servant with the Anambra State Government before getting married. She was also said to have experienced difficulties in her marriage, although the specific circumstances surrounding those challenges remain unclear. While she reportedly acknowledged experiencing frustration, the precise reasons behind her decision to undertake the arduous journey to Togo on foot have yet to be established. There were also indications that the journey might not have been her first attempt at travelling a long distance on foot, although the details of any previous journeys remain unconfirmed.
At the time the video was recorded, Chioma was reportedly in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State, with a substantial distance still separating her from her intended destination in Togo.
However, the viral footage did not establish what happened after her encounter with the concerned man. It remains unclear whether she continued her journey, accepted assistance, was taken to a police station or was connected with any relevant authorities. Her current whereabouts and safety could not be established from the information contained in the video.
The incident has since triggered widespread reactions on social media, with concerned Nigerians urging anyone who knows Chioma or her relatives to assist in establishing contact with her family.
Calls have also been directed at the leadership of Oko community and the Anambra State Government to intervene urgently, investigate the circumstances surrounding her journey and take appropriate steps to ensure her safety.
Many have expressed concern that a woman who has reportedly spent weeks trekking across states, without a functioning phone or readily available family contacts, could face significant risks if left without assistance.
As public concern continues to grow, attention is increasingly focused on identifying Chioma’s current location, understanding the circumstances that prompted her journey and ensuring that any intervention respects her dignity while prioritising h
er safety and well-being.