US Soldier Zainab James Launches Search for Nigerian Father Lateef Quadri

• US soldier Zainab James has launched a public search for her Nigerian father, believed to be named Lateef Quadri
• She shared old family photographs on Facebook, including one of her late mother Claudine James while pregnant with her in 1993
• Zainab hopes to reconnect with her father or his relatives, despite never having met him and knowing only fragments of his identity

A 31-year-old US soldier, Zainab James, has taken to social media in a heartfelt bid to locate her Nigerian father, identified as Lateef Quadri.

The public appeal, shared on Facebook on Sunday, has drawn attention across communities in the United States and Nigeria.

Old family photos spark renewed search

In her post, James uploaded a series of old photographs featuring her late mother, Claudine James, and the man she believes to be her father. One of the images shows Claudine visibly pregnant with Zainab in 1993, during her time living in Brooklyn, New York. Claudine James, born on 9 December 1969 in Montego Bay, Jamaica, has since passed away.

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Zainab explained that her mother became pregnant in 1993 and gave birth to her the following year. She noted that her father was not present at her birth and had no long-term relationship with her mother. However, she revealed that he had chosen her name before her birth.

Zainab’s emotional plea

In the Facebook post, Zainab wrote:

“Update: Mother’s name : Claudine James, born Decenber 9, 1969 in Montego Bay, Jamaica (deceased) , Hey All! A real shot in the dark but why not! My mom(pictured) got pregnant with me in 1993 ( I was born 1994) while living in Brooklyn New York. I’m looking for my father or any of his family. All I know is he was Nigerian, possibly named Lateef Quadri or something like that. They didn’t have a long term relationship as he wasn’t present at my birth but he did choose my name. No one in my family met him either. Apparently she was friends with his sister who worked in a jewelry store with her.”

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James also mentioned that her mother had been friends with a woman believed to be Quadri’s sister, who worked alongside Claudine in a jewellery store. That connection, she hopes, might lead to new information about her father or his relatives.

The soldier’s appeal has resonated with many online, with users sharing the post in hopes of reaching someone who may recognise the names or faces. Her search adds to the growing number of diaspora stories where individuals seek to reconnect with lost family ties across continents.

Soldier reunites with kids he saved

Legit.ng earlier reported that a 97-year-old World War II veteran, Martin Adler, has reunited with the three kids he rescued in Italy as the German was losing the war in 1944.

Daily Mail reports that more than 70 years after the war, the man would fondly hold the black and white photo of himself when he was a 20-year-old American soldier as he posed beside the children he saved.

Source: Legit.ng