Police detain 3 for kidnapping, hacking teenager

THREE persons have been arrested by men of the Ogun State Police Command for kidnapping and machetting an 18-year-old boy, Paulinus Nweke, with machete.

The incident, Saturday Tribune learnt, occurred around 3:30 pm on Monday in Itele, Ado-Odo/Ota area of Ogun State.

After machetting him several times, Nweke’s attackers were said to have locked him up in a toilet.

An eyewitness, Mr. Muideen Adetunji, told newsmen that the incident happened at Olugbode, Lafenwa area of Itele.

According to him, Nweke’s brother, who was hawking belts and underwear, told some passers-by that he heard his brother calling for help from one of the nearby houses.

“The incident happened around 3:30 pm on Monday. A boy hawking belts and underwear around Olugbode, Lafenwa, Itele, told some passers-by he heard his brother calling for help in a house. When we got there, we were surprised at what we saw. They had macheted the boy and run away before the youth got there,” he said.

Angry youths set the building on fire before the police and fire service men arrived.

Confirming the development, the Assistant Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abimbola Oyeyemi, said Nweke was hawking bread before he was abducted. He also confirmed that the victim was machetted several times by his abductors and locked up in a toilet.

He told Saturday Tribune that the landlord of the house, his caretaker and another man had been arrested by the police. 

Oyeyemi said, “Our men in Itele were alerted that a boy, Paulinus Nweke, was hawking bread and was invited to the building but didn’t come out again. Some of the residents said they saw the boy go inside, but didn’t see him come out. 

“When we got to the scene, we found the boy inside the toilet in the pool of his blood. Thank God, he was rescued and is now receiving treatment in a hospital.”

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