The family of Daniel, the victim-survivor in the United Kingdom’s first conviction under its Modern Slavery Law, speaking on camera for the first time has cried out for help so they can confirm if their son is dead or alive......Read The Full Article>>.....Read The Full Article>>
They spoke exclusively in the docu-series ‘Daniel vs. Ekweremadu’, which secured exclusive access to Daniel’s father, mother, step-mother, brother, mentor, and best friend in Nigeria.
“The disappearance of Daniel has been a huge problem in the family,” the step-mother said. “I fell sick because of this, but I had to encourage Daniel’s mum. We don’t know if he is dead or alive. We are begging the UK government; we are also begging the Nigerian government; please let us know how our son is doing.” She added, “If anything happens to my son or any member of my family, hold Ekweremadu responsible.”
Asked to confirm if indeed the family has not spoken even to his mother, his brother answered, “He has not spoken to the mother. She doesn’t even have a phone.”
According to the film director,
“We took their request directly to the British Metropolitan Police and Justice and Care, the non-governmental organization that confirmed they are taking care of Daniel and are in touch with him. Unfortunately, after confirming for the interview, the latter did not show up and has stopped responding to our messages since. “We found that deeply curious and disrespectful of a family that is heartbroken because they do not know if their son is dead or alive. Daniel is a human being with rights and whose emotional well-being is crucial in addition to his physical safety. “To be cut off completely from his family and for a request to at least confirm his well-being for his family’s sake to be ignored, despite our agreement to all their conditions, is strange. No one but the police now knows if Daniel – whose identity has been changed according to the authorities – is dead or alive, well or not. In the midst of the United Kingdom’s raucous immigration debate, only the police know the status of this vulnerable Nigerian immigrant.”
The docu- series is written and directed by award-winning filmmaker and TV host, Chude Jideonwo.
