By Victoria Mckeown-
Police are becoming increasingly concerned for missing I.T. Student, Richard Okorogheye, who has now disappeared from his home in West London for a week.
Richard went missing in the evening of the 22nd of March, and was last seen near Kensal Road. Richard, 19 is 6ft tall and slim and was wearing a black top, black tracksuit bottoms and black trainers and carrying a small Adidas bag.
Singer Dua Lipa, photographer Misan Harriman and author Bonnie Greer have have all joined the appeal to help find the missing teenager online.
Richard was reportedly last seen wearing a black top with black tracksuit bottoms, black trainers and carrying a small Adidas bag. When wearing platforms, he is described as being 6ft and of a slim build.
The innocent looking young man is known to visit both the Westminster and Hammersmith and Fulham areas of the capital.
Adding to the concern of both his family and the police, is that both his wallet containing his bank card and bus pass were oddly left at home. The teenager told his mum he was heading out to meet friends that evening however no one has been in touch with him since.
Last night the Met police confirmed they were exploring all avenues in searching for the missing teen.
Chief Inspector Clare McCarthy said: “Our officers have been working tirelessly to locate Richard, using all investigative opportunities and data enquires, speaking with witnesses and trawling CCTV.
“We are following every lead possible and are appealing for the public to help us in our work. If you may have seen Richard, please contact the police”.
Sickle Cell Condition
He suffers from a rare sickle cell condition which has caused him to shield for the past year due to the pandemic. He would only leave the house for regular blood transfusions.
His mother Evidence Joel told feared that this isolation had caused him to become depressed, and was “struggling to cope”.
Richard’s mother told MyLondon that “Richard is seen as a low risk but he’s a young adult with a health condition.”
The U.K. charity Missing People tweeted the following on its page last week:
“We know that Black people, and people from other ethnic minority groups, are not always getting the response they deserve when they are missing or report someone missing. We are reviewing how we should respond, and how we work with the police, media and other agencies to tackle this”.
This came off the back of an interview Mina Smallman gave to the BBC as to why the murder investigation of her two black daughters in Wembley Park was not given the same attention as that of Sarah Everard. “Other people have more kudos in this world than people of colour.”
There has been a great deal of support for Richard’s campaign on social media with Dua lipa, Photographer, Misan Harriman and author Bonnie Greer all sharing the appeal.
Mr Harriman wrote on his Instagram page: “His mum is incredibly worried and say the police haven’t been helpful.