FROM TONY OSAUZO, Benin
The stowaway teenager, Ricky Daniel Ohikhena, who, on August 24, this year hid in a wheel well of an Arik Air craft from Benin to Lagos, has said he did not know that he took a risk when he did that, promising not to do it again.
“I regret it. I want to go home, I am tired.” On his dream, the boy said: “I will be happy to train as an engineer.”
The young Ohikhena, had since his return from Lagos two weeks ago, been held up in a building in the company of security personnel in the Government House, Benin City.
Speaking to journalists, the apparently home-sick boy requested that he should be allowed to go home with his mother to enable him resume school.
Master Ohikhena, who answered questions in mono syllables in the lonely facility said he was happy with the award of scholarship to him by the Edo State Government and De Rauf Foundation.
He said he was terrified when he was arrested on arrival in Lagos from Benin, adding that he was not maltreated but given good food where he was kept.
Ohikhena told journalists that he was questioned in Lagos and in Benin, revealing that he returned to Benin by road with three armed security men.
He said that on the return trip to Benin and even at his present location, he was being treated well with “good food,” but that since school has resumed, he would want to go home.
Meanwhile, Edo State Government has secured admission in one of the state’s top secondary schools for 13-year-old Daniel Ohikhena.
The State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole made this disclosure during the visit of Mr George Uriesi, Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and other FAAN Management team to him at the Government House, Benin City, yesterday.
According to the Governor, “without meaning to encourage anyone else, we decided to support him by sending him to one of the top secondary schools in Edo State that is owned by the Government. The reason for opting for a boarding school is that we think that there is need to closely watch him which his parents could not do.
“He is an intelligent young man with uncommon challenges, but one that has a vision. We had him examined by people who should know and the result confirmed that he is normal.
“This incident was probably the kind of trigger that we needed to improve the facilities at our Airports. You are never going to have all the money you need to do all you have to do. You should start from somewhere,” he noted.
Oshiomhole added: “It is also a security issue that we do not have any runway security lights at the Benin Airport.”
