Lifestyle
Police doubts Oshodi amputee hawker’s story as LASG withholds N25Million donation
The Lagos State government has withheld the money donated to Mary Daniel, the Oshodi amputee hawker, who recently went viral.
Mary Daniel recently made headlines after pictures of her selling water at Oshodi went viral on social media. In an interview, claimed she was an orphan with a baby and an aged grandmother to fend for. She also narrated how she dropped out of school and hit the streets to make ends meet.
Her heartrending story prompted many Nigerians to donate money to her bank account, which was made public. NewsWireNGR gathered that about N25Million was eventually raised.
The Lagos state government eventually intervened by providing accommodation and protection to prevent criminals from taking advantage of her sudden fortune. NewsWireNGR also gathered that the Lagos State Governor Sanwo-Olu directed that a Kogi traditional leader in Lagos and a Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO), Irede foundation, should further investigate the story and keep a tap on her movements.
However, investigations have revealed that the amputee was not telling a true story about herself and the life she had been living before the help from the public and government intervention
Contrary to the claim that she is an orphan, the state government found out that the father of the amputee hawker is alive.
It was also revealed that she was amputated from birth, contrary to her claims that she lost a leg in an accident that killed all passengers, including her parents, when she was a teenager.
According to a report by The Nation, Daniel was exposed after those who staged her story started threatening that they would reveal the truth unless she gave them their share of the money.
Confirming the development, Lagos Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu said, “there were irregularities and lies in the account of her life she gave.”
The police boss said,“It was discovered that contrary to her claim that her parents died during an accident that left her amputated, it was discovered that her father is very much alive and that she was amputated from birth.
“It was also discovered that her presence in Oshodi was staged. Those working with her played on the intelligence of Nigerians to get donations for her.
“It came to light when the people started threatening her. She promised some N500,000 others different amounts and was planning to return to her home state when the information leaked.
“I had to attach some policemen to her to prevent any attack on her when she went to the bank. We suspected those people might follow her but everything went well as they were not seen.
“Presently, the state government is preventing her from accessing the money.”
“The government does not want a situation where it will become a trend for people to cook up stories, manipulate the people to get donations.”
