Dawit — if you see this, your family in Nigeria is looking for you

My cousin Dawit set out from Ibadan in 2020 to build a better life. The plan was for the rest of us to follow. We never did, and somewhere along the way we lost contact. A family member abroad promised to help, but the journey was longer and harder than anyone expected. Back then, Dawit was 17 years old and believed the separation would be short. For the first 20 months, we received occasional calls. Dawit was working in painting houses in New York and seemed to be doing okay. They talked about sending money home, about eventually bringing us over. We lost all communication in 2023. After that, silence. No calls, no messages, nothing. What I miss most is the smell of fresh bread that would fill the kitchen every Saturday. Dawit would be around 23 today. short and stocky, with a round face and kind eyes. My mother prays for them every single night. Please, if you know anything about Dawit, reach out. A mother is waiting to hear from her child.