By Izunna Okafor, Awka
In what could be described as both shocking and thought-provoking, a little boy from Umunze in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State has found himself in Ghana, after allegedly sneaking into a truck loaded with onions from Lagos without the driver’s knowledge.
The strange and startling story, the video of which has gone viral on social media, has sparked public outrage and deep concerns over the alarming porosity of Nigeria’s borders and the failings of her internal security architecture.
According to the viral video currently making rounds online, the boy — who lives in Lagos with his father, Mr. Iheanacho Nwankwo — narrated that he unknowingly boarded the truck under the assumption that it was about to make a nearby turn. He quietly sat inside, waiting for it to stop, only to later realise that he was already in Ghana — without a passport, visa, travel documents, or even money.
Thankfully, the little boy’s ability to speak fluent Igbo became his saving grace. His dialect caught the attention of some Igbo traders in Ghana, who stopped, engaged him, and upon hearing his story, came to his rescue.
The Igbo traders, in the video, however assured to make possible efforts in their to reunite the missing boy with his family.
Although, the video did not capture the name of the boy, some social media users who claim to know him, identified him as Chinemerem Nwankwo, pledging to reach out to his family members.
While some netizens found the boy’s tale amusing and mind-blowing, many others have decried the serious lapses it reveals, especially as it concerns national security, border control, and the safety of citizens, particularly children.
How the little boy travelled from Lagos to Ghana, crossing state boundaries and international borders, without being noticed or stopped by any of Nigeria’s numerous security agencies is still a thing of surprise and concern to many, especially as it relates to the issues of border management and general security of the country.
a thing What happened to the immigration officers at the border? What about the Nigerian Army, Police, Customs, and Road Safety personnel who are known for mounting multiple checkpoints on major highways? Did they all miss this truck or simply turn a blind eye?
Was it because the truck was not heading to the South East?
If the vehicle had been transporting Igbo goods or traveling eastward, would it have passed so easily without being searched or impounded? These are the hard questions now being asked — not just by concerned citizens, but by every Nigerian who understands what this incident means for the safety of lives and the sovereignty of the country.
More painful is the irony: while security agents mount aggressive and sometimes oppressive stop-and-search operations in the South East, innocent children, weapons, and criminals might be slipping in and out of the country unchallenged through loosely monitored entry and exit points.
This is how terrorists, bandits, and dangerous elements find their way into the country.
It is no wonder the fight against insecurity in Nigeria seems unending — because while the government claims to be combating terrorism, it appears to have left the doors wide open for terrorists and criminals to freely walk in. One wonders what type of border control allows a minor to enter another country hidden in a cargo truck, without triggering any red flags.
Indeed, this incident raises not just issues of border management but also highlights the need for parents and guardians to be more vigilant over their children, especially in a place like Lagos where children can easily stray off into dangerous situations.
Interestingly, many have also praised the boy for knowing his roots and speaking his language fluently — a trait that saved him in a foreign land; even as many described that as a lesson to all that nurturing children in their native tongue and cultural identity can one day make the difference between life and death.
Watch the video below:
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