There was pandemonium mid-week in the Nigerian media space, albeit for a brief moment, as news of a ‘missing’ nonagenarian Lagos socialite and Yeye-Oge of Lagos, Chief Mrs. Opral Benson, rent the air.

Yeye-Oge, who will be 91 this February, is a frontline socialite and fashionista, whose sense of fashion and attention to details earned her accolades across the country and indeed the prestigious chieftaincy title, Yeye-Oge of Lagos conferred on her by the late Oba of Lagos, Adeyinka Oyekan II. Though originally a Liberian, she was married to a former Minister in Nigeria’s First Republic, the equally flamboyant and fashionable T.O.S. Benson, of blessed memory.

The first reaction was surprise. How could that have happened? A ninety-year-old woman? How could she have been allowed to leave her home alone? These are not poor people, and there’s no way she would have been left without at least a minder or help, especially at such ripe age. Was it a case of accident? Kidnap? Many questions, most of which hardly fell in place.

This reporter first caught a glimpse of the story on the Facebook page of Azuh Arinze, a journalist, publisher and author. Surely, a journalist of his stature wouldn’t publish unverified stuff to generate traffic. Besides, it was credited to The Cable, a credible Nigerian online medium.

A few hours later, while comments of concerned people tumbled in, a counter comment came in that Mrs. Benson had been found in her home country, Liberia. Another funny story was that she was talking incoherently, like she was still in Nigeria. That could mean only one thing – senility or dementia. If she had fallen into dementia, how could she have made her way to the airport unaided? Who took or aided her? Many more questions…

statement credited to one Bimbo Cardoso, said to be her stepdaughter, read in part: “I wish to express my heartfelt appreciation to all of you who joined hands in tracking and tracing the whereabouts of Mama. She is reported to be in Liberia – a country she left in 1962 to become a Nigerian.

“I spoke with Mama today, Sunday, 18 January, at 11:18 a.m. She is well and hearty; however, she is unaware that she is in Monrovia, Liberia, she responded her location to be Ikoyi, Lagos.”

This second paragraph further cemented the fear that she had indeed fallen into dementia.

The message went further: “The transportation of Mama out of Nigeria without the knowledge of her family is deeply troubling and should be frowned upon by all daughters who model respect and care for their mothers. This act of disregard, impunity, and irresponsibility is therefore frowned upon….”

The statement went further to state that all Opral Benson’s siblings are deceased, further justifying why her showing up in Liberia was out of place.

My Mama never missing

However, in a counter statement titled: ‘Opral Benson in Liberia, Attending to Critical Personal, Domestic Matters,’ the nonagenarian’s biological daughter, Spencilene Precious Benson, wrote:

“I, Spencilene Precious Benson, daughter of Mama Opral Benson, OON, issued this statement in response to a false, malicious, and deliberately misleading publication alleging that my mother is missing.

“I categorically state that this publication is entirely false, unfounded, and fabricated, and appears to have been orchestrated by individuals acting with malicious, callous, and nefarious intent.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Mama Opral Benson, OON is not missing. We are presently in Monrovia, Liberia, where she is visiting family members and attending to critical personal and domestic matters. She remains in good health and we will be returning to Nigeria shortly.”

Further down, she warned: “Furthermore, I hereby put the originators and distributors of this false, malicious, and reckless publication on notice to cease and desist immediately from further dissemination of such misinformation.

“Be advised that I am taking steps to ensure that the appropriate law enforcement and regulatory authorities are formally notified and engaged to investigate this matter and take all necessary action.”

However, a source close to the family, who volunteered to open up on the matter on condition of anonymity, said: “It is a serious matter.”

According to the source, Mama was never missing. “The person who put out the security alert is the same person who is aggrieved that her stepmother went to Liberia. How can your biological daughter take you to your birthplace, where you want to be with your family and friends, and someone begins to make trouble?

“It was her biological daughter, Precious Benson, who took her home on her wish. She went on her wish. She was clearly feeling the pull to go back home.

“Let this be clear: she was not suffering from any kind of dementia or anything. It’s just like you have your own biological children and some other children from your spouse or whatever, always wanting to be at the forefront or in charge of your affairs for whatever reasons.

“What I see in this whole matter is a step daughter being envious of the biological daughter and making her look bad in the eyes of the public; like she was not taking care of her mother.

“The daughter that took her to Liberia is Precious Benson. As we speak, Mama (Opral Benson) is in Liberia and in great spirits. I can even provide pictures of where she had lunch with her relatives and friends.

“The lady that sent out that flier is the stepdaughter that has been making trouble because she doesn’t have a grip over the woman. Why does she want to have a grip over her? So she’s been fabricating tales against Precious, making her feel incapable of taking care of Mama.”

The Nation, during further investigations, another source disclosed that Mama and Precious were twice turned back last year at the airport, as they attempted to travel out to Liberia, due to some false security alert sent to the airport authorities and the police alleging attempted kidnap. The family is yet to unravel the face behind the false alarm, this source said.

“How can a daughter kidnap her own mother? All Mama wanted was to visit her home and be with her people! Imagine the stress on both elderly women. Precious is 73 and Mama will be 91 this February 7.

“And Precious is such an angel; she’s so quiet, she doesn’t want any media mess. She doesn’t want the family to be dragged into the media or social mess. ‘Imagine the social media saying that mama has fallen into dementia? Mama’s head is very correct and she’s in good care’, she told me from Monrovia.”

On the assertion that all Mama’s siblings have passed and there was nobody she was going to see in Liberia, our source said: “It’s a lie. Even if that were to be the case, doesn’t she have siblings’ children, cousins, nephews?”

How long has she been angling to visit home? (The Nation)