The Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Security
and Civil Defence Corps has arrested two suspected child kidnappers in
different parts of Abeokuta.
The two suspects – Ronke Akindele and Life Nwem –
were arrested in Eruwon and Idi-Ori areas of the city respectively when they
attempted to kidnap their victims in separate incidents.
The state’s NSCDC Acting Commandant, Mr. Dele
Adetarami, while parading the suspects, said Akindele attempted to kidnap
one-year-old Basit, who was playing in company with his three-year-old brother
in front of their house at Eruwon.
Adetarami said the child’s mother had gone into
the house to get water for him to drink when she suddenly heard her elder child
shouting that somebody had taken Basit away.
He said, “She ran out and went after the suspect
who immediately dropped the baby and attempted to escape. But the suspect was
apprehended by our men who were on surveillance patrol in the area.
“It took a reinforcement of our men before the
suspect could be taken away from the scene because the people insisted on
lynching her.”
The suspected child kidnapper, who the corps said
had already admitted committing the crime, said she was sent by a paint dealer
(name withheld) in Ago-Oko, Abeokuta.
“Preliminary investigations by the corps have
shown that there could be some accomplices,” Adetarami said.
The second suspect, according to him, Nwem,
had been disguising in the Alapa Unity Housing Estate, Idi-Ori area as a
deranged person for quite some time until last Friday when he attempted to
abduct nine-year-old Itunu, who was on her way to school.
The NSCDC said, “The arrest of the suspect was
made possible following a distress call we received at our headquarters in
Oke-Mosan. Men of our Armed Squad raced to the scene of the incident and
arrested the suspect.
“He was always pretending to be a mad man but he
was said to be in the habit of using money to entice children in the community.
But nemesis caught up with him as he attempted to kidnap the girl who was going
to school.
“But all efforts to get the suspect to say
something have so far proved abortive. However, the case shall be transferred
to the appropriate agency.”
Itunu’s father, Kayode, told our correspondent
that he rushed out of the house when he heard his daughter crying but was
confronted with the sight of the suspect chasing her with a cutlass.
Kayode said in his attempt to save his daughter,
the suspected kidnapper bit him on his leg but he was eventually over-powered
by other residents who responded to his distress call.
The Ogun NSCDC boss therefore warned parents to
always ensure that their children were never out of their sight.
“Mothers and all other citizens should be very
cautious and conscious. Never allow your children to go out of your sight for a
second. These kidnappers could be hiding anywhere within your vicinity,” he
said.
Punch
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