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Police have renewed their appeal for a man who went missing following a night out in Coventry.
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Ozeivo Andrew Akerele, 24, left his home on Richmond Street on Friday evening (30 January) to go out socialising with friends.
The Nigerian born man, who has only been in the country for a few weeks and is currently studying at the city’s university, was last seen by friends at the Iglu Club on Spon Street around 3.30am on Saturday 31 January.
However, enquiries have revealed that he may have been on Foleshill Road, specifically between Park Street and the A444, around 7am on Saturday 31 January. A man of similar description was seen talking to a taxi driver in a black hackney cab opposite Lloyds Bank and a short time later the same man is believed to have been seen attempting to talk to motorists further up Foleshill Road, near to Cross Road.
Known as Ozi, he is described as black, 6’ 2" tall and of a slim build. He was last seen wearing jeans, distinctive blue and white converse trainers and a grey/black zip-up jacket.
Superintendent Chris Edwards, from Coventry Central police station, said: "We believe that Ozi made a call asking to be picked up near to Coventry University in the early hours of Saturday 31 January. However, when his lift arrived he was not there and has not been seen since.
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"His family are extremely concerned as this is very out of character for him. He would not know the area particularly well and we are appealing to anyone who has seen Ozi or knows of his whereabouts to call their local police with details.
"I would also like to hear from anyone who recalls seeing a man of his description in Foleshill road on the Saturday morning, or any motorists who spoke to such a man to contact us.
"We just want to make sure that he is safe and well."
The mother of a student who went missing after a night out in Coventry in January has made an emotional plea to the public for help.
Ozi Akerele was last seen flagging down motorists in Foleshill on the morning of January 31.
The 24-year-old had been on a night out with friends but, despite extensive police inquiries, he hasn’t been seen since.
Insp Alastair Orencas, who is leading the investigation, says officers haven’t found anything to suspect something sinister has happened.
He suspects Ozi simply got lost after he had been out drinking with friends.
Today Ozi’s mother Irene Akerele flew in from Nigeria to beg for information from anyone who saw her son on the morning he was last seen.
She said: “I’m very worried – I’m scared. I can’t face my other children, I cannot tell them about their brother.
“I can’t tell my youngest. He would feel so bad. He looks up to Ozi as a father.
“When I lost my husband three years ago he looked up to Ozi.
“He said, ‘I’m not going to have a dad now’ and Ozi said, ‘don’t worry, I will be your father’.
“I’m begging the public, if you have any information concerning my son please tell the police.
“He is a good boy, he is well loved. As a family we want to be reunited with him.”
Ozi had only arrived in Coventry to study for a masters degree in the last few weeks.
His 23-year-old girlfriend Emmanuella said Ozi, who lived in Richmond Street, Stoke, had been out in Coventry once before and on that occasion he also got lost on his way home.
“If anyone has any information please come forward,” she said. “We all just want to get closure.”
Insp Orencas said Ozi had called Emmanuella asking to be picked up on the morning on January 31, but when she arrived in a taxi he wasn’t where he said he would be.
A short time later, at 6.50am, his phone went dead, possibly because he had dropped it.
At 7.03am he is caught on CCTV speaking to a taxi driver at the junction of Park Street and Foleshill Road and at 7.50am in Old Church Road he flags down a motorist and asks for help.
CCTV: Missing Coventry student Ozi Akerele's last sighting
Police want to speak to the taxi driver, the other motorist, or anyone else who saw or spoke to Ozi in Foleshill Road in Saturday morning.
Insp Orencas added: “It’s the time of year where people don’t look in their sheds or gardens, but if you live in that area I would request that we take a look.
“It’s important that we make ourselves content that Ozi hasn’t tried to seek refuge in a garden.
“Is there anything out of the ordinary in or around your shed or garden, any personal property that has been dropped?
“Just take 15 to 20 seconds of your time and have a look.
“At this stage we are keeping an open mind... Ozi isn’t used to the temperatures in this country.
“He has tried to make his way home and he hasn’t made it. At this time this is a missing from home inquiry and not a criminal inquiry.”
Ozi’s pictures, and further details, are expected to be shown at both the Coventry City and Wasps games this weekend in a bid to jog people’s memories and raise awareness of his disappearance.
If anyone has any information then please call Coventry police on 101.
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