The family of a 20-year-old University of Nairobi student has launched an emotional appeal for help after their daughter vanished three weeks ago under mysterious circumstances.
Jane Atila, a second-year Bachelor of Education student at the University’s Kikuyu Campus, went missing on October 3, and efforts to locate her have so far been unsuccessful. Her relatives now fear she might have been kidnapped, after receiving phone calls from strangers allegedly demanding ransom for her release.
When Citizen TV visited her guardian’s humble home in Kabiria, Nairobi, sadness and anxiety filled the air. According to her guardian, Patrick Mwangale, Jane had left the university that afternoon to meet her boyfriend, but later went silent.
“She left her friends on campus to meet her boyfriend nearby, but by 7pm, her phone went off, and she never came back,” said Mwangale.
The family reported her disappearance to the Kikuyu Police Station after frantic attempts to reach her failed. Days later, unknown individuals began calling, some pretending to know her whereabouts while others demanded cash for her freedom.
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The calls raised hopes and fears in equal measure. One person falsely claimed Jane had been found in Kilgoris, prompting the family to travel there in desperation. Their search, however, ended in disappointment — she was nowhere to be seen.
Another caller, who posed as a senior police officer from Kilgoris, claimed to have rescued Jane. However, his story was later exposed as a lie.
Detectives have since launched probe into the matter. The Kikuyu Sub-county Police Commander has revealed that several phone numbers connected to the scam are under forensic analysis.
Neighbours, who spoke off camera, said Jane was last spotted at her boyfriend’s residence, where the two allegedly had a heated confrontation before she vanished. The boyfriend has reportedly moved out and switched off his phone, adding another layer of mystery to the case.
Three weeks later, her family remains gripped by uncertainty but refuses to lose faith. They continue to hope that Jane Atila will be found alive and safely reunited with her loved ones.
By Joseph Mambili
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