8th May, 2014
Cyriacus Izuekwe
There are indications that kidnappers are on the prowl in Lagos State, western Nigeria, as there are several cases of reported kidnappings in the state in the last few days.
P.M.NEWS gathered that this week alone there were several attempts to kidnap school children in various parts of the state which were foiled by residents of the areas.
On Tuesday, P.M.NEWS reported how an unidentified suspected elderly female kidnapper was set ablaze by an angry mob along Ekoro Road in Abule Egba area of the state.
It was alleged that the suspect attempted to kidnap three school children who were on their way to school around 7a.m. when she was caught and set ablaze by the residents of the area.
The Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mrs Ngozi Braide, in a press release said on 5 May the policemen attached to Ipaja Division responded to a distress call at Adefemi Junction, Ipaja, Lagos and rescued an alleged kidnapper, Samsondeen Yusuf, who was about to be lynched by a mob.
The suspect, who was seriously injured and is now receiving treatment at Oke-Odo General Hospital, was mobbed for allegedly attempting to kidnap a teenager, Salawat Sonubi, at Adelani Dada Street, Ipaja, Lagos.
B
raide said the case was under investigation at the State Criminal Investigation Department Yaba, Lagos.
On 6 May, it was also reported that a five-year old boy, Prosper Kingsley, who lives at 23, Imosan Compound, Idimu, Lagos was allegedly abducted by a 34-year old Mufutau Kosoko at his residence.
Kingsley was later rescued by neighbours while Kosoko was arrested and detained at Idimu Police Division for investigation.
On the same day, a team of policemen attached to Ikotun Division responded to a distress call at Ile-Iwe Bus Stop, Egbe, Lagos over a case of kidnapping.
It was reported that the policemen rescued a woman, Chinava Nancy Okafor, who was stripped naked and was about to be lynched by a mob for allegedly attempting to kidnap a child.
The woman, reportedly admitted to be a kidnapper, and the case has been referred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, for further investigation.
Aside child kidnapping, it was also gathered that adults were also victims of these rampant kidnappings in the state.
It was reported last Friday that a medical practitioner, Dr Junaid, was kidnapped in his hospital, Living Stone Hospital at Abaranje Ikotun area of the state.
P.M.NEWS learnt that the doctor’s kidnappers later contacted his family and demanded for N20 million ransom before he could be released.
Reacting, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Umar Manko has assured Lagosians of the protection of their lives and property, saying the police will continue to do their best to ensure that there is adequate security in the state, while parents were advised to be more vigilant in protecting their children against kidnappers.