Mother Reunites With All Three Children After More Than 30 Years

What began as an emotional appeal on social media has ended in a remarkable family reunion, as a Nigerian mother has finally reconnected with all three children who were taken away from her more than three decades ago.

Just two days after Lister Matthew Osas launched a public search on Facebook, the family confirmed that all three missing siblings had been found.

The reunion culminated in an emotional video call during which the mother spoke with her children for the first time in over 30 years, a moment that has left many Nigerians celebrating what they describe as the positive power of social media.

Lister, the youngest child in the family from her mother’s later marriage, had earlier shared the heartbreaking story of how her mother, a native of Cross River State, lost contact with her three children in the 1990s.

According to her account, her mother was previously married to a Cameroonian man, Alfred Dibong Mandeng, while living in Kaduna. The couple had three children: Anthonia Dibong Mandeng, Maxwell Dibong Mandeng and Victoria Dibong Mandeng, before the children’s father allegedly left Nigeria with them and relocated to Cameroon.

For decades, their mother reportedly remained in Kaduna, holding on to the hope that one day her children would return.

The breakthrough came after the story gained widespread attention online. The first to be identified was Anthonia Dibong Mandeng, now Anthonia Godemen following her marriage.

Further searches led to the discovery of Maxwell and Victoria, completing a reunion that many feared might never happen.

The siblings are now all married with children of their own, while their father has since passed away.

Photos and videos of the emotional virtual reunion have since gone viral, with many social media users describing the moment as nothing short of miraculous.

For Lister, whose determination brought the family back together, the outcome represents more than a successful search; it is the fulfilment of her mother’s lifelong prayer to see her children again.

The story has inspired thousands across social media, serving as a moving reminder that even after decades of separation, hope, persistence and the power of online communities can help reunite families across borders.