Suspect Says He Was Paid To Kidnap Two Children

Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested two suspected child abductors for kidnapping two toddlers, age six and four, in Igando area of Lagos.



The suspects, identified as Uche Umerua and Prophet Kenneth Alozie, were paraded alongside other suspects by Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, at the state police command.

Vanguard learned that the children were made to believe that one of the kidnappers was a family friend, since the man stayed in the same area with them.

He took them to a church belonging to one prophet for a spiritual work, according to 35-year-old Uche Umerua, who resides in Igando area.

He said: “One Lady Chioma, who specialises in abducting children, asked me to abduct two children for her. I picked up the children on their way back from school lesson at Akesan Bus Stop at about 12noon.

“I handed them over to Mama Chioma, who took the children to a prophet. I was asked to bring N6,000 so that a charm will be made for me to enable me bring in more children for them.

“The woman and prophet asked me to leave the building that they will give me a call. Unfortunately, on getting to my place of work, police apprehended me.”

Denying the allegation, Prophet Kenneth Alozie of Hope in God Living Ministry, said: “Mama Chioma is a member of my church. She brought in Mr. Uche and the two children for payers.

“Mr. Uche explained to me that his wife abandoned him and their two children for over a year now and he needs prayers for his wife to return back home.

Victim’s account
According to the six year-old victim, “they gave me rice and stew. They also bought drinks for us. He told us that it was our mummy that said he should buy them for us.

“I started crying when I did not see my mummy again. They did not cover our eyes. He said he was going to carry us to see my mummy, but he carried me to another woman’s house. The place is not a church.”
Narrating her ordeal, Monsura Badmus, the mother of the rescued children, said: “It was my sister that went to pick my children from the lesson venue.

“Unfortunately, when she got there she didn’t see them. I became worried and went to the police station to report. The police said we should go look for them first in the neighbourhood and ask my friends if they were with them.
“Luckily, one of the children who saw when the barber took my children, said he saw my children with him.”