The Lagos State Government, has revealed that the incident that surrounded the emergence into limelight of Mary Daniel, “the Oshodi Amputee”, were stage managed.
You would recall that Mary Daniel had stated in the now famous story of her life that, she lost a leg in an accident that killed all passengers, including her parents when she was a teenager.
She had revealed in an interview that, she is an orphan with a baby and she presently fends for her aged grandmother.
She had further stated that her harrowing life experience included her having to drop out of school and had to resort to hawking “pure water” on the streets of Oshodi to make ends meet.
Most of her claims have been discovered by the Lagos State Government to be false.
Mary Daniel came into limelight some weeks ago after pictures of her selling “pure water” at Oshodi emerged on social media and attracted sympathy from Nigerians across the world.
Her touching story had prompted sympathetic Nigerians to make donations through a stated bank account.
The Lagos State Government also got involved and her welfare was immediately taken up. She was sheltered, to prevent criminals from taking advantage of her sudden fortune.
All has been going well for the young lady until the Lagos State Government discovered recently that her father was alive.
The Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu immediately handed her over to officials of the social welfare for investigation, following revelations that her case was staged.
Daniel, it was gathered, was receiving strange calls from those who staged her story, with threats to reveal the truth unless she gave them their share of the money.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police Hakeem Odumosu, revealed that tthe young woman was in the custody of officials of the Social Welfare.
Odumosu in a released statement 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.
He further stated that “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.”
Investigations into the whole incident are still on going.
