A family in Bayelsa State has appealed for help after their daughter, a toddler under two years old, reportedly went missing from the children’s department of a Catholic church where she had been left during a service.

The incident allegedly occurred on June 21, 2026, after the child was handed over to a teacher in the church’s children’s department.

According to the child’s father, Festus, the family returned after the service to pick up their daughter but were allegedly informed that she could not be found.

Festus said the teacher confirmed that the child had been handed over to him but could not explain what happened to her.

The family subsequently reported the matter at a police station, where, according to the father, a formal entry was made. He alleged that some individuals connected to the incident were taken to the station, their phones were examined, and they were later released.

Festus also expressed disappointment that he had not personally been contacted by the bishop to hear directly from him about the circumstances surrounding his daughter’s disappearance.

“I was expecting the bishop to call me and ask me how the incident happened, for him to hear it from my mouth,” he said.

The distraught father appealed to Nigerians, President Bola Tinubu and social media personalities, including Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, to assist the family in finding the child.

“I am begging Nigeria. I am begging everybody to help me in this matter because I am confused now,” Festus said.

He said the family had been searching for the toddler for about three months.

“I am looking for my child. Since three months now, my child has been missing. Nowhere to find my child,” he said.

Another person supporting the family called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance, questioning why an individual allegedly connected to the case was released after being taken to the police station.

“A child is missing. This is not an animal. It is a human being we are talking about,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Bayelsa State Police Command, DSP Musa Mohammed, told SaharaReporters that he was not aware of the matter when contacted.

He promised to make inquiries into the case, saying, “Please let me make quick inquiries and get back to you.” However, he had not responded to SaharaReporters at the time the report was filed.

The family has continued to appeal to members of the public to share any information that could help locate their missing daughter.