Leader of a child thief syndicate has confessed that his gang has stolen three children since February this year from different locations in Lagos State PHOTO: Thetoc.gr
Suspected criminals who specialise in capturing and stealing children and teenagers are on the prowl in Lagos.
The police in the state have however expanded their dragnets to restrict their moves.
One of them, leader of a child thief syndicate has confessed that his gang has stolen three children since February this year from different locations in Lagos State.
The suspect, Samuel Adebanjo was stated to have been saved from being lynched by an angry mob at Tunkarimu Street, in Ajegunle, on February 29, 2016, by policemen attached to Ajeromi police station.
Based on what was gathered, Adebanjo and four others he identified as Tunde, Bidemi, Sunday, and another kingpin, identified as Uncle Rasheed on February 25, 2016, abducted one Rokeeb Adebisi, at Tunkarinmu Street, and escaped with the kid.
They attempted to kidnap another on February 29 when luck ran out on Adebanjo. His other gang members, however, managed to escape.
The victim was stated to have been saved by vigilant neighbours who swooped on Adebanjo and gave him the beating of his life.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ajegunle police station, Aminu Gusau, a Chief Superintendent of police (CSP) was stated to have been alerted. Guasau swiftly deployed a team of anti- robbery policemen to the scene.
The policemen were stated to have rescued the suspect Adebanjo, but the angry youths attacked the cops with stones.
Adebanjo who was detained immediately by the police confessed that they had already kidnapped three victims who were delivered to their Uncle Rasheed.
A police source told The Guardian that Adebanjo provided useful information, but unfortunately, police were unable to effect an arrest in all the areas he took them to, including Ipaja, Aiyetoro, and Ogun State.
The source stated the police are still trailing the fleeing suspects while they had vowed to prosecute Adebanjo.
The DPO disclosed that the suspect is helping the police with information that would lead to the arrest of the fleeing members of his gang.
An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Lagos State recently had remanded a Cameroonian woman, Christine Amosson, in prison custody for allegedly attempting to steal a baby in her care.
Few weeks ago, three female boarding school students from Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary in Agunfoye-Lugbusi village in Lagos State were abducted by gunmen at around in their hostel at night.
The students spent about one week in the hands of their abductors before they rescued by the police.
Experts have however called on the police to boost security around primary and secondary schools rather than drafting all our policemen to protect Very Important Personalities (VIP’S) and Banks only.
Guardian