A teary-eyed Melton mother has pleaded with her teenage daughter who’s been missing for four days to come home.
There are growing concerns for the safety of 18-year-old Nashra Kowa who was last seen when she was dropped off at Melton Christian College about 8am on April 27.
The family has been unable to make any contact with the Year 12 student, who had only $10 when she went missing and doesn’t have access to a bank account.
Mum Nadia Koko urged Ms Kowa to get in touch with the family to let them know she’s safe.
“I don’t know where you are,” Ms Koko said. “I don’t know if you’re alive or dead … This is very hard, very hard for me.”
Ms Kowa was last seen wearing her Melton Christian College uniform but police believe she may have changed her clothes since that time. She was also carrying a large black, red and yellow ‘Mick’s Gym’ duffle bag.
This is the second time in as many months Ms Kowa has gone missing, but in the first instance she came home at her own accord several hours later, dad Khalil Kowa said.
“The last time when she was missing, her mum talked to her and said, ‘Nashra, please, we need you to finish your school and look after yourself, don’t do anything bad’,” Mr Kowa said.
It’s believed the teenager was with a 23-year-old New South Wales man at the time. Police say they have spoken with the man in recent days who confirmed he is not with Ms Kowa.
Mr Kowa said his daughter was speaking “all night” on the phone with a friend and had deactivated her social media accounts a day before she went missing.
“If Nashra calls her mum, me or her sister and she says, ‘I’m in a safe place, I live with my friend’, that’s fine.
“If you miss someone, and you can’t get any connection – no telephone, no anything – you will feel concerned.”
Melton police constable Katie Keatling said Ms Kowa was known to hang out at Watergardens Shopping Centre.
“We’re just hoping she’s well and safe, and that she’ll return home soon,” Constable Keatling said.
Ms Kowa is 157 centimetres tall, of large build, and has long, black, braided hair.
She’s urged anyone with information to contact police on 9747 7999.
