There was brief panic in the Nigerian media mid-week following reports that prominent Lagos socialite and Yeye-Oge of Lagos, Chief Mrs. Opral Benson, had gone missing. The nonagenarian, who will turn 91 in February, is a celebrated fashion icon whose elegance and attention to detail earned her national acclaim and the chieftaincy title conferred by the late Oba of Lagos, Adeyinka Oyekan II. Though Liberian by birth, Mrs. Benson is widely regarded as a Lagos high-society fixture, having been married to the late T.O.S. Benson, a former minister in Nigeria’s First Republic.
Initial reports of her disappearance sparked widespread concern and speculation, with questions raised over how a woman of her age could have left home unattended. The story, first circulated on social media and attributed to credible news platform TheCable, was later countered by claims that Mrs. Benson had been located in Liberia. Unconfirmed accounts further alleged that she appeared disoriented, fueling speculation about possible health challenges. However, the circumstances surrounding her travel and condition remained unclear, leaving many questions unanswered as the story quickly evolved.