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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Melissa Sigodo

Vigil and protest to be held for missing student nurse 7 weeks after she was last seen

A vigil will be held on Friday evening for missing student nurse Owami Davies who disappeared from her home seven weeks ago.

The 24-year-old from Grays, Essex, was first reported as missing to Essex Police on July 6 - two days after she was last seen by her family.

On Saturday The Mirror revealed that on the same day her disappearance was reported police were called to an address in London following concerns for a woman’s welfare.

The woman turned out to be Owami.

But because the officers were from the Met Police so at the time they did not know that Owami has been reported as missing as the report had not been entered into the Police National Computer (PNC).

Owami was first reported as missing on July 6 (Family handout/My London)
An image from bodycam footage shows Owami on the day officers were called to her in Croydon (Met Police)

It was entered into the PNC the next day.

Officers and London Ambulance services found Owami asleep on the street and said she was “vulnerable”.

Organisers Women Will Not Be Silenced (WWNBS) along with Black Lives Matter (BLM) Enfield, will hold the vigil and protest outside Croydon University Hospital at 6pm.

Founder of BLM Enfield Delia Mattis said: “ Owami Davies is a vulnerable young woman who should have been prioritised as a matter of urgency.

Image of Owami taken from CCTV footage in Croydon (PA)

“Our young sister has now been missing for seven weeks and we are supporting the family in raising awareness at this difficult time.

"We are responding to the calls from our communities and allies to take to the streets and make our voices heard in the hope that this will generate more publicity for Owami Davies so that she can be returned to her home safely.”

Delia Mattis says that reports about the handling of Owami's case have been triggering (Delia Mattis)

Ramona McCartney from WWNBS criticised the media coverage Owami received compared to that of Sarah Everard who was tragically killed by serving Met Police officer Wayne Couzens.

She said: “WWNBS is outraged by the lack of media coverage around the disappearance Owami Davies.

“When Sarah Everard went missing there was intense media coverage and rightfully so.

“Why don't we see the same attention given to our Black sisters?"

Ramona McCartney from WWNBS says that Sarah Everard received more media coverage than Owami Davies has (Ramona McCartney)

Met Police admitted they were “playing catch up” as the first 48 hours appears to have been the most crucial in finding her.

Four days ago British Transport Police tweeted that Owami could be travelling on trains looking dazed and confused.

However, Met Police stated that this was based on CCTV footage seen of her on the day she went missing seven weeks ago on July 6 and that she did not have any money on her oyster card.

Owami Davies seen on CCTV in a shop on Derby Road in West Croydon (PA)

Detective Chief Inspector Nigel Penney of the Specialist Crime unit said: “My team picked up the investigation on the 1st of August so then we were playing catch up to see what had or hadn't been done.

“We maintain our stance that we’re doing everything we can to find Owami.”

The Independent Office for Police Conduct are considering whether to launch an investigation because officers came into contact with Owami after she had been reported missing.

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