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29th Mar 2021

Mum of missing 19-year-old is ‘worried something has gone wrong’

Student Richard Okorogheye left his home in West London a week ago, telling his mum he was going to see a friend, and hasn't been seen since

Claudia McInerney

Student Richard Okorogheye left his home in West London a week ago and has not been seen since

19-year-old student Richard Okorogheye left his family home in Ladbroke Grove in West London on 22 March and has not been seen since.

Okorogheye was reported missing on 24 March, two days after he was last seen.

The Oxford Brookes university student told his mother he was going to visit a friend.

His mother, who is desperate to find her son, said Okorogheye was “struggling to cope” during the pandemic as he has been shielding since March 2020 as a result of his chronic health condition, sickle cell disease.

The Met Police are becoming increasingly concerned about Richard Okorogheye’s whereabouts and urge anyone with information about the 19-year-old student to contact them.

The student’s mother, Evidence Joel, told My London: “Richard has never done anything like this. Something has gone wrong.”

Speaking to Sky News, she said: “All he said to me was ‘mummy, I’m going to see my friend’. I trusted him, I had no doubt or no reason to ask him further questions.”

Chief Inspector Clare McCarthy, of the Met Police, said: “Our officers have been working tirelessly to locate Richard, using all investigative opportunities and data enquires, speaking with witnesses and trawling CCTV.

“We are following every lead possible and are appealing for the public to help us in our work. If you may have seen Richard, please contact police.

“If Richard is safe and well, we ask him to contact us as a matter of urgency so that we can put his family’s minds at ease.”