The family of a 90-year-old Lagos socialite, Chief Opral Benson, has raised serious concerns after confirming that she is currently in Monrovia, Liberia, days after she was declared missing in Lagos. While her family has expressed relief that she is alive and physically well, they say troubling questions remain about how she was taken out of Nigeria without their knowledge.
Chief Benson, a respected figure in Lagos social and cultural circles, is the widow of the late Chief Theophilus Owolabi Shobowale Benson, popularly known as T.O.S. Benson. He was a former Minister of Information, Broadcasting and Culture in Nigeria’s First Republic and a prominent political leader.
The situation first came to public attention after a notice circulated online on Tuesday, stating that Chief Benson had been missing since Tuesday, January 13, 2025. According to the notice, she reportedly left her residence for an unknown destination and did not return home. The family described the matter as time-sensitive and appealed to members of the public for any information that could help locate her.
For several days, her whereabouts remained unknown, causing growing anxiety among family members, friends and well-wishers. The case attracted widespread attention on social media, with many Nigerians expressing concern over the safety of an elderly woman of such age and status.
However, on Sunday, January 18, some clarity emerged when her daughter, Bimbo, confirmed that Chief Benson had been traced to Liberia. In a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday, Bimbo thanked friends and concerned Nigerians who helped in tracking her mother. At the same time, she raised alarm over the circumstances surrounding her movement from Nigeria to Liberia.
According to Bimbo, she spoke with her mother on Sunday at exactly 11:18 a.m. During the phone conversation, Chief Benson reportedly sounded healthy and in good spirits. However, what worried the family most was that the elderly woman did not appear to know her true location.
“She is well and hearty; however, she is unaware that she is in Monrovia, Liberia, and she responded that her location is Ikoyi, Lagos,” Bimbo said.
This revelation deepened the family’s concerns. They described the transportation of Chief Benson out of Nigeria without their knowledge as disturbing and unacceptable. Bimbo said such an action showed a lack of care and responsibility towards an elderly woman who deserves protection and respect.
“The transportation of Mama out of Nigeria without the knowledge of her family is deeply troubling and should be frowned upon,” she said, calling on those involved to reflect on their actions.
Bimbo also disclosed that her mother has not visited Liberia in over 10 years. She added that Chief Benson’s siblings are all deceased, meaning there were no close family members in Liberia who could have invited or expected her.
The family stressed the importance of Nigerian cultural values, especially respect and care for elders. Bimbo noted that her mother has lived in Nigeria for over 65 years and has fully embraced Nigerian culture and traditions.
“In keeping with our Nigerian culture of deference to elders, all those desirous of meeting and greeting Mama are urged to visit her in Nigeria and not place her at unnecessary risk,” she said.
She also pointed out that Nigeria and Liberia share long-standing diplomatic and cultural ties, built on mutual respect. According to her, both countries hold Chief Benson in high esteem because of her contributions and status.
Chief Benson holds over 25 traditional chieftaincy titles across Nigeria. She is widely known as the Iya Oge of Lagos, a respected cultural title. In addition, she was recently honoured by the Liberian government. During the celebration of her 90th birthday in Lagos last year, the President of Liberia, Joseph Boakai, conferred on her the Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of Africa, one of Liberia’s highest national honours.
Despite this recognition, the family insists that her safety and well-being should come first. They warned individuals they described as “opportunists” to stay away from her and stop taking advantage of her age and status.
“Opportunists parading and surrounding her are hereby urged to immediately withdraw and desist from their pursuits,” the family said. They also appealed to Nigerians to keep Chief Benson in their prayers for her safe and timely return to Nigeria.
Amid the growing debate, the African Refugees Foundation (AREF) also released a statement confirming Chief Benson’s presence in Liberia. The statement, signed by the foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Olujimi Olusola III, said her stay in Liberia was voluntary and not a cause for alarm.
“AREF confirms that Mrs. Benson is currently in Liberia, her presence there is voluntary and known,” the statement said.
The foundation urged the public and the media to ignore reports suggesting that she was taken out of Nigeria against her will. It warned against spreading unverified information that could cause panic or confusion.
“We urge members of the public and media organisations to disregard false and misleading reports and refrain from spreading unverified information that may cause unnecessary alarm,” the foundation added.
AREF also said it remained committed to protecting the dignity of individuals associated with it and ensuring that accurate information is shared with the public.
However, the family’s statement suggests that there may be differing views on how and why Chief Benson travelled. While AREF insists the trip was voluntary, the family maintains that they were not informed and that Chief Benson herself seems unaware of her true location.
Chief Opral Benson was born on February 7, 1935. She is of American-Liberian and Nigerian heritage and has built a long and respected career in Nigeria. Over the years, she has worked in education, fashion and corporate administration.
She is a former university administrator and currently manages a fashion and beauty school in Lagos, where she mentors young Nigerians, especially women. She also served as a director at Johnson’s Products, the Nigerian arm of the multinational company.
In recognition of her links to Liberia and her service, she was appointed Honorary Consul of Liberia in Lagos in 2012.
As the situation continues to unfold, many Nigerians are calling for clarity and transparency. While there is relief that Chief Benson is alive and well, questions remain about who facilitated her journey, under what conditions, and when she will return home.
For now, her family says their main priority is her safety and dignity, as they await her safe return to Nigeria.