Mother Seeks Justice

Distraught mother, Seini Sakeo is struggling to come to terms with the death of her 20-year-old daughter, Elina Naidike (inset), whose body was discovered near Vitogo, Lautoka, on Saturday afternoon.

Ms Naidike was three months away from celebrating her 21st birthday.

In her grief, Ms Sakeo of Waiyavi, Lautoka, took to social media to plead for justice, asking anyone with information regarding her daughter.

She is also seeking help to apprehend those responsible for her daughter’s death.

“I was shocked to see what was done to her. Her face was deformed,” Ms Sakeo said.

“It was like a knife used on her upper eyebrows down her cheek. Such a cruel thing to have happened to an innocent girl. Those who did that don’t have a heart.”

Ms Sakeo said they were looking forward to celebrate her daughter’s 21st birthday on September, 19.

Last met her daughter

The mother of six said the last time she met her late daughter was about 6pm last Friday.

“She said she was going to a friend’s place and that Saturday was her day-off from work. I was okay with it because she always informed me of the places she goes to.

“I also know her best friend and her other friends.”

Ms Sakeo said she began to worry when her daughter didn’t return on Saturday night.

“On Saturday night I couldn’t sleep. I told my family that something bad might have happened because as a mother, I felt uneasy.”

Ms Sakeo started searching for her daughter on Sunday morning.

“On Sunday, she was supposed to go to work, yet she still hasn’t returned home. Early in the morning, I started looking for her, walking from my home in Waiyavi to her best friend’s house. This friend is the one she works with at McDonald’s.”

“Her friend told me that they had dropped her in front of our house on Friday night. Our neighbour told me that there were two men waiting on the road on Friday night and they took her in a vehicle.

“They couldn’t recognise the number plate of the vehicle that she got into.”

Police visited her residence before Ms Sakeo reported her daughter missing on Sunday afternoon.

“Before I went to the Police station to lodge a report, they came for me to identify a photo of a body they found. It was the photo of my daughter. We then went together to the hospital where I confirmed it was her.”

Future cut short

Ms Naidike is from Kadavu with maternal links to Navatu, Vanua Levu. Her mother described her as a beacon of hope as she paid for her young siblings’ education while working at McDonald’s.

“Now she is gone. I miss her so much.” She was the third child of six siblings.

“I want those who did this to her to face the full brunt of the law. I want justice for my daughter. She is the only one who helps me financially and supports the rest of her siblings. She was special to our family. Who could do such a cruel thing to her?”

Police investigate

Police have confirmed investigations into the case while waiting for the post-mortem result.

“A report was received at the Lautoka Police Station on Saturday afternoon, whereby officers from the Lautoka Crime and Crime Scene Investigations Unit were deployed to the scene,” Police said. The victim’s body was uplifted and conveyed to the Lautoka Mortuary.”

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