By Kehinde Bashir, Lagos
Operatives of Lagos State Task Force have arrested one Idama Endurance, male, for allegedly abducting a six months old baby, Darasimi Akinyemi at Oshodi in the state metropolis.
The suspect, according to a statement copy of whuch was sent to The DEFENDER by Head of Public Affairs Unit of the Task Force, Mr. Adebayo Sadiq, was arrested during an over-night patrol at No 55, Oshodi Road, Oshodi, Lagos.
The Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force SP Olayinka Egbeyemi disclosed that the suspect would have been lynched to death but the quick intervention of his men who were on duty and who saved the situation.
Egbeyemi said further that preliminary investigations conducted by the Agency revealed that the suspect who lived in the same compound with the mother of the child illegally entered another neighbour’s room at the mid-night to carry out the evil act.
The Chairman stated that the suspect would be transferred to Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, Lagos for further investigations with the directives of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni.
The mother of the alleged abducted baby Mrs Banke Akinyemi, 29, said the suspect came into her room mid-night while she was asleep and took her baby beside her.
She claimed that it was the cry of the baby that woke her up and immediately the suspect dumped the baby and ran outside.
Mrs Akinyemi who hailed from Ejigbo in Osun State stated that it was her mother who is staying with her and other neighbours within the compound, who were alerted, that woke up and apprehended the suspect.
According to her, “If not for the intervention of the operatives of the Lagos State Task Force who were on a mid-night patrol the man would have been lynched to death”.
The suspect Mr. Idama Endurance, 31, from Obiakuruku area of Delta State, debunked the allegation that he abducted the baby.
He confessed to have got drunk at a birthday he attended the previous night and when he got home at mid-night he had to jump the gate as he could not locate the gate key.
“Yes it was after I jumped the gate that I entered into their room looking for a key to the gate as their door was not locked”.
According to him, “Since I moved into the compound a year ago I have been eyeing the mother of the child and when our landlady told me she was two months old pregnant then I immediately stayed off.”
Mr. Endurance, who claimed to be trading on ‘linen clothing’ materials at Kairo market Oshodi, however, confirmed that other neighbours within the compound and passers-by had started beating him calling him ‘kidnapper’ before the arrival of the operatives of the Lagos State Task Force.
A landlady, Mrs. Johnson Esther, of same address said she was surprised when the matter was reported to her.
She claimed the activities of the suspect looked suspicious as he usually came home late and jumped the gate to enter the compound most of the times.
