You probably still remember Daniel Ricky Ohikhena, the boy who stowed from Benin to Lagos in the wheel well of Arik Flight W3 544, on Saturday, August 24, 2013. Daniel celebrated his 15th birthday on April 27 in school in Benin-City. But before his birthday, Daniel had a bitter experience in school when he was bitten by a snake while reading in class.


Daniel Ricky Ohikhena, the boy who stowed from Benin to Lagos in the wheel well of Arik Flight W3 544
The boy stowed to Lagos while hiding in one of the wheel wells of the air craft. Airport officials in Lagos were shocked when the boy jumped out from the under carriage of the aircraft. His action drew the attention of the world to Edo state that day, as the stowaway boy said he thought the aircraft was on its way to the United States.

Daniel’s ignorance catapulted him to limelight as the boy, who said he wants to read aeronautic engineering, attracted the attention of Governor Adams Oshiomhole who met with the boy and his parents to know what was actually Daniel’s problem.

After the boy declared his intention to further his education, Oshiomhole added him to the pool of his children and announced a scholarship package for him. Today Daniel is a boarding student in one of the prestigious secondary schools in Edo and enjoying all the facilities available as the governor’s son.

Sunday Vanguard met with the boy, currently on break from school. Asked how he felt looking back at what transpired on August 24, 2013, he said, “I feel stupid and ashamed of myself remembering what I did. That thing could have led me to jail or even death. My life has changed since then and I thank God for that. I was even scared then that the Comrade Governor was going to put me in jail but he saved my life”.

Discussing life in school, particularly when he was bitten by a snake, Daniel said it was a horrible experience but expressed gratitude to God for surviving the incident. His words: “When I had the snake bite, I was rushed to our clinic in school before my mum came and took me to a Specialist Hospital where I spent three days.

I told my mum to help me tell the Comrade Governor but she said she tried but could not because it was not easy to see the governor. Governor Oshiomhole is my father and I will always remain grateful to him because he sent me back to school. When the stowaway incident happened, I was scared of what he will do but he invited my mum and I and asked me what I will like to become and encouraged me to go to school.

Snake bite

“What happened was that my seat was not good, so I was looking for a board to put on top of the seat so that it will be stable. I saw one board close to our hall. I went for it. But as I was trying to pick it up, I did not know a snake was under it. A green snake bit my hand. One of my friends used a big stone to pin it on the ground there, then I crushed the head on the floor; that is how I killed it. They tied my hand and rushed me to our clinic.

That evening, my mum came and took me to hospital. I was in hospital for three days, My mum took care of the bills. The snake bite was really painful. During the period, my mum was running everywhere trying to get the attention of the governor but didn’t succeed. I actually wanted to see the governor and tell him what happened to me because he is my father. I am happy he is taking care of me but sometimes I feel like seeing him to tell him how grateful I am.

Let me use this opportunity to appeal to him that he should still remember me. I am the same Daniel that he put in school. I am forever grateful to him for the scholarship he gave me.  I want to beg him to help my mum on her business. Infact my mother was trying to do that but she spent the money paying hospital bill after the snake bite.

My father left us even before that aircraft incident and it is only my mum that is taking care of four of us. It has not been easy; we need help. One of my sisters wants to enter the university to read medicine now, You probably still remember Daniel Ricky Ohikhena, the boy who stowed from Benin to Lagos in the wheel well of Arik Flight W3 544, on Saturday, August 24, 2013. Daniel celebrated his 15th birthday on April 27 in school in Benin-City. But before his birthday, Daniel had a bitter experience in school when he was bitten by a snake while reading in class.


Daniel Ricky Ohikhena, the boy who stowed from Benin to Lagos in the wheel well of Arik Flight W3 544
The boy stowed to Lagos while hiding in one of the wheel wells of the air craft. Airport officials in Lagos were shocked when the boy jumped out from the under carriage of the aircraft. His action drew the attention of the world to Edo state that day, as the stowaway boy said he thought the aircraft was on its way to the United States.

Daniel’s ignorance catapulted him to limelight as the boy, who said he wants to read aeronautic engineering, attracted the attention of Governor Adams Oshiomhole who met with the boy and his parents to know what was actually Daniel’s problem.

After the boy declared his intention to further his education, Oshiomhole added him to the pool of his children and announced a scholarship package for him. Today Daniel is a boarding student in one of the prestigious secondary schools in Edo and enjoying all the facilities available as the governor’s son.

Sunday Vanguard met with the boy, currently on break from school. Asked how he felt looking back at what transpired on August 24, 2013, he said, “I feel stupid and ashamed of myself remembering what I did. That thing could have led me to jail or even death. My life has changed since then and I thank God for that. I was even scared then that the Comrade Governor was going to put me in jail but he saved my life”.

Discussing life in school, particularly when he was bitten by a snake, Daniel said it was a horrible experience but expressed gratitude to God for surviving the incident. His words: “When I had the snake bite, I was rushed to our clinic in school before my mum came and took me to a Specialist Hospital where I spent three days.

I told my mum to help me tell the Comrade Governor but she said she tried but could not because it was not easy to see the governor. Governor Oshiomhole is my father and I will always remain grateful to him because he sent me back to school. When the stowaway incident happened, I was scared of what he will do but he invited my mum and I and asked me what I will like to become and encouraged me to go to school.

Snake bite

“What happened was that my seat was not good, so I was looking for a board to put on top of the seat so that it will be stable. I saw one board close to our hall. I went for it. But as I was trying to pick it up, I did not know a snake was under it. A green snake bit my hand. One of my friends used a big stone to pin it on the ground there, then I crushed the head on the floor; that is how I killed it. They tied my hand and rushed me to our clinic.

That evening, my mum came and took me to hospital. I was in hospital for three days, My mum took care of the bills. The snake bite was really painful. During the period, my mum was running everywhere trying to get the attention of the governor but didn’t succeed. I actually wanted to see the governor and tell him what happened to me because he is my father. I am happy he is taking care of me but sometimes I feel like seeing him to tell him how grateful I am.

Let me use this opportunity to appeal to him that he should still remember me. I am the same Daniel that he put in school. I am forever grateful to him for the scholarship he gave me.  I want to beg him to help my mum on her business. Infact my mother was trying to do that but she spent the money paying hospital bill after the snake bite.

My father left us even before that aircraft incident and it is only my mum that is taking care of four of us. It has not been easy; we need help. One of my sisters wants to enter the university to read medicine now,
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/from-stowaway-boy-to-oshiomholes-son/

The boy dey escape so many things, he sounds intelligent and a good future for Nigeria. From stowaway to fame, by d way wen will barcanista and other sanTANIST enter stowaway too





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