AREF CLARIFIES WHEREABOUTS OF IYA OGE OF LAGOS, SAYS OPRAL BENSON IS SAFE IN LIBERIA
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The controversy surrounding the whereabouts of 90-year-old socialite and entrepreneur, Opral Benson, popularly known as Iya Oge of Lagos, has been laid to rest, with the African Refugees Foundation (AREF) confirming that she is safe and in good health in Liberia.
AREF, where Mrs Benson serves as president, dismissed reports that the widow of former First Republic Minister of Information, Chief T.O.S. Benson, was missing, describing the claims as false and misleading.
In a statement, the Chief Executive Officer of AREF, Olujimi Olusola III, said Mrs Benson’s stay in Liberia was voluntary and well known to relevant parties.
“AREF confirms that Mrs Benson is currently in Liberia; her presence there is voluntary and known,” Olusola said.
The clarification followed a statement attributed to members of the Benson family on Sunday, which claimed that the nonagenarian, an American-Liberian-Nigerian who married the Ikorodu-born politician in 1962, had been missing since January 13, after reportedly leaving her Lagos residence for an undisclosed destination.
The statement had appealed to the public for information that could help locate her and urged anyone with details to contact the family or the police.
However, AREF urged the public and media organisations to disregard the missing-person report, cautioning against the spread of unverified information.
“We urge members of the public, media organisations, and community stakeholders to disregard the false and misleading reports and refrain from spreading unverified information that may cause unnecessary alarm,” the foundation said.
“The foundation remains committed to promoting truth, protecting the dignity of individuals under its care, and ensuring that accurate information is made available to the public.”
A source close to the Benson family also confirmed that Mrs Benson was not missing, stating that she travelled to Liberia to visit family members and was accompanied by her daughter, Precious, and an assistant.
“Mama Opral is in Liberia visiting family. Precious and her assistant are with her,” the source said.
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According to the source, the confusion may have resulted from a communication gap within the family, adding that the missing notice was allegedly circulated by a stepdaughter who may not have been informed of the trip.
Born on February 7, 1935, Opral Benson is a former university administrator and ex-director at Johnson’s Products Nigeria, the local arm of the multinational corporation. She is also the founder of a fashion and beauty school in Lagos and was appointed Honorary Consul of Liberia in Lagos in 2012.
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