Society Gists

The twitter social media site went agog yesterday following a tweet from an Australian, one Andrew Sayer, who claimed he sent $10,000 to a Nigerian suffering from the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

Simply identifying the Nigerian as Oghenekohwo, a self-acclaimed prince who lives in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Sayer said he had through Western Union made an initial payment of $10,000 with plans to remit an additional $5,000 later.

He raised the alarm on his twitter page when his purported attempts to reach the said Oghenekohwo proved abortive after attempts to reach out to him through the Western Union office also failed.

Although it was unclear if the Australian was merely joking, some persons believed he was seeking for attention while others thought he had been genuinely duped.
In his initial tweet, Sayer tweeting from @andrewsayer said, “My friend in Nigeria may have Ebola. After I sent him that $10 thousand he hasn’t been returning my emails. I hope he’s okay.

“I am going to give it a few more days and then see if he responds. If he does I can send another five thousand dollars. Please respond.”

When some people informed him that he had been duped, he said, “But he is royalty and said he would pay me back. Why wouldn’t he? Surely not. He said he would pay me back. Why wouldn’t he? He needed it urgently.”

After his inability to reach the said prince, he went on to say, “I went to Western Union and everything. Western Union can’t help either. Can anyone help me find Oghenekohwo. He lives in Port Harcourt I think.

“I know his first name. That’s a good starting point, right? He is a prince so he can’t be that hard to find. Is there a big problem with Ebola there? Do you think he is okay? Is there anyway of finding out? I didn’t get his full name.”

Responding, one NM Nwachukwu tweeting from @Purehaire said: “@andrewsayer You didn’t get his full name and you said you sent a Western Union?”

One of those that didn’t believe his claims was Zion who tweeting from @TWEETPRESSS wrote: “@andrewsayer please send me the screenshot of the bank financial details then I will believe what you are saying and I might help you.”

Another, one @sxinned said: “@andrewsayer STOP, seriously. Why would you give your ‘friend’ 10 thousand dollars if he is ‘royalty’. Surely, he is rich enough to pay for his own treatment then!”

Yet another, @EkanemSays said: “@andrewsayer I own a security company in Nigeria that specialises in tracking people. Send me the money and I’ll find your friend.”