Weeks after a public appeal was launched to help locate two missing people - Taoipu Vaigafa, and Junior Ben - their whereabouts remain unknown.

The Ministry of Police, Prisons, and Corrections have not yet informed the public that the pair have been found after they pleaded for help finding them. 

On 18 December 2020, the Police appealed for public help in locating Mr. Vaigafa, a 56-year-old man of Samusu Aleipata.

He has been missing for more than a week and suffers from cognitive disorders, Police said.

Two weeks later, seven-year-old Junior Ben, a child with a disability, went missing in Savai'i after Christmas which also led to the Police seeking help from the public to locate his whereabouts. 

The child, also known as J.B. Samuelu, went missing from his home at Fogasavaii three days ago, on 28 December.

“He was last seen wearing white shorts with no shirt. Junior Ben aka J.B. is a child who has a disability and his family is anxious to find him,” the Police said in a statement,” the Police said in a statement. 

According to Police reports, Mr. Vaigafa has been missing from his home in Samusu Aleipata since 8 December.

“When he failed to return home his family and relatives have been trying to locate him but all attempts made have so far been negative,” the Police’s original statement read. 

“Taoipu is a person who has a mental condition [or] disability and his family is anxious to find him.”

“When he failed to return home his family and relatives have been trying to locate him but all attempts made so far have been negative. Taoipu is a person who has a mental condition/disability and his family is anxious to find him,” the Police notice said.

The Police urged the public to contact the telephone number 22222 if they have any information that could help them locate him.

Attempts to get a new update from the police regarding the two missing people were unsuccessful.