The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has confirmed that two visually-impaired students who went missing from a special school in Ebonyi State three months ago have been found alive in Enugu and reunited with their parents.
Mr. Christopher Okorie, Coordinator of the NHRC Ebonyi Directorate, disclosed on Friday in Abakaliki that the teenagers — Augustine Onwunyiruba, a 17-year-old JSS3 student, and Lawrence Onyenaturuchukwu, a 16-year-old SS1 student — were discovered on September 11 in the Abakpa Nike area of Enugu, where they had been begging on the streets.
According to Okorie, the students fled their school, the Ebonyi State Special School of the Blind, Opefia, Izzi LGA, after being threatened with punishment by senior students.
“Thankfully, they were found in good health and handed over to their parents. We deeply appreciate the press and the general public for the support that made their recovery possible,” Okorie said.
The Ebonyi State Police Command also confirmed the development through its spokesperson, SP Joshua Ukandu, who explained that the discovery was made after one of the parents received a phone call. The police stated that the students would be brought back to the command for further questioning.
One of the parents, Mrs. Lovina Ikegwu, mother of Onyenaturuchukwu, expressed gratitude to the NHRC and the police for their swift action in ensuring the safe return of the children.
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