Police rescue kids from kidnap suspects

THE NATION – A woman and two men suspected to be kidnappers have been arrested by the police in Lagos, while allegedly attempting to abduct three children.

The suspects - Chinava Nancy Okafor, Samsondeen Yusuf and Mufutau Kosoko – were arrested at separate locations.

Okafor, the police said,  was arrested at Ile-Iwe bus stop, Egbeda, on the outskirts of the city by operatives attached to Ikotun Police Station. Yusufu and Kosoko were held at Adefemi Junction, Ipaja and Idimu on the outskirts of the city.

They allegedly attempted to kidnap Salawat Sonubi (14), Prosper Kingsley (five), and a yet-to-be-identified child.

Okafor had been beaten and stripped naked by a mob and was about being burnt when policemen rescued her.

Chinava confessed to being a kidnapper, saying she was trying to steal the unidentified child when she was caught by residents.

Yusufu was almost lynched at Ipaja before she was rescued by operatives. Kosoko, who “stole Kingsley from his house”, was apprehended by neighbours.

Police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said: “On May 6, about 3pm, policemen attached to the Ikotun Division responded to a distress call at Ile-Iwe bus stop, Egbeda. The policemen rescued the victim and arrested Chinava Nancy Okafor who had been stripped naked and was about to be lynched by an angry mob. The woman has admitted to being a kidnapper and the case is under investigation at State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba.

“Also on the same day, at about 6.45am, one Prosper Kingsley (5) of 23, Imosan Compound in Idimu was allegedly abducted by one Mufutau Kosoko (34) at the above address. The victim was rescued by neighbours, while Kosoko was arrested by police operatives at Idimu.

“On May 5, about 10.30pm, policemen attached to Ipaja Division responded to a distress call at Adefemi Junction, Ipaja and also rescued one Samsondeen Yusuf who was about being lynched by an angry mob for attempting to kidnap one Salawat Sonubi (14) of Adelami Dada Street, Ipaja. The suspect is receiving treatment at the Oke-Odo General Hospital and the SCID is investigating.”

Meanwhile, a suspected kidnapper who allegedly attempted to abduct a six-year-old boy has been set ablaze at Araromi bus stop, Iyana-Ipaja.

As at 7pm yesterday, the middle-aged man’s body was still burning as riot policemen around the place could not rescue him.

Police rescue kids from kidnap suspects