Mother's plea to help bring missing Nigerian Durham student home

THE mother of an American student who disappeared more than three weeks ago has made an emotional plea to help bring him home. Fighting back tears, Tolu Peters rejected Durham Police’s theory that her 20-year-old son Sope had gone into the River Wear and insisted: “We as a family strongly believe that he is still alive and that he’s going to come back.”

Speaking to the media on Durham City’s riverbanks, she said: “My plea is to every mother out there, every father, every sister, every brother, every person who knows what it means to be in a family and who knows what it means not to know where your family member is, to make that extra effort, go that extra mile, to notice, to keep your ears open and not forget Sope.“Be aware of what’s going on, ask questions, just notice – it can make a difference to our family, his friends, his community, the university.

“I’m asking one person – please make a difference in getting Sope home.”

Mr Peters, a second-year economics student at Durham University’s Hatfield College, was last seen at about midnight on Tuesday, October 29.

He is from a Nigerian family living in North Virginia, USA.He had visited Klute nightclub, by Elvet Bridge, and told friends he would meet them in Jimmy Allen’s bar next door.

His mother, who said she needed to travel to Durham for herself, said no-one knew what had happened to him, but the police had been “fantastic, excellent”.

Mrs Peters said she was very grateful to the people of Durham for their help, adding: “Sope loves Durham.

“He loved the city, he loved the people, he loved the university.

“This is a traumatic time for our family. It’s been very surreal. It’s been a challenge and we’re relying on our faith – that’s what’s keeping us going.”

Mrs Peters said her son was happy, confident, gentle and likeable; a people person who liked being with friends and family.

“He’s a good person. He has a good heart,” she said.

She said he was doing well in his studies and there was “nothing on his mind to disturb him”.

The HR professional last saw her son during a visit to Durham a month ago. They spoke on the telephone a few days before he went missing, when they prayed together, and exchanged text messages the day before his disappearance, when he said he had lost his umbrella and she told him to buy a new one.

Dr Anthony Bash, senior tutor at Hatfield College, said Mr Peters, who hoped to become an investment banker, was very personable and popular – a “guy with style”.

Inspector Paul Anderson said the police were continuing to search the Wear but also keeping all lines of inquiry open.

Mr Peters was last seen wearing a blue jumper over a black shirt, with light green trousers.

Anyone who can help with the police investigation is asked to call 101.Source