Angry Mob Destroys A Suspected Kidnapper's Den In Lagos...

A middle-aged woman, identified simply as Mama Ifunanya, who was found with the unconscious body of her neighbour’s son at about 6.30am in the Ologede area, Majidun, while she was escaping with a luggage where she had hidden her neighbour’s eight-year-old son named Emmanuel.

 

Emmanuel, who has a twin sister, was found with the suspected kidnapper shortly after he was about heading for school. Mama Ifunanya, who confessed to the crime, was stripped and beaten up by a mob before confessing that she was sent by a prophet in the area to bring the boy for rituals.

The mob  who were no fewer than 200 followed her to the building on Oshodi Street, Majidun Bus- stop Ikorodu where she claimed the prophet was waiting for her. However, after the angry residents forced their way into the structure, it was discovered that the prophet had fled.

The mentally challenged man. Photo credit: Olaleye Aluko

They looted all its rooms and vandalised property in the house after designating it a kidnapper’s den.

The youths, who forced their way into the structure, also found many strange materials such as soaps, calabashes and bloodstains which confirmed their claim.

According to a resident, who gave her name simply as Olufunke, the building has been a mystery to them for long because no one really knew who the occupants were.

She said, “We know that the building is owned by one Pastor Ernest, who also has a church, but the place is usually locked. He does not stay there too. The only person you see is the security man at the gate. This morning, a woman that was caught with a boy claimed that she was asked to bring him here for rituals.

“When the people broke into the structure, they found some mentally-challenged people in the rooms. They also found many strange materials – photographs of previously missing people, mats and calabashes containing unknown substances.”

Punch correspondent, observed a mentally-challenged man that had chains on his hands and feet being led out. The man, who could not give his name, was half-clothed, and carried a bag containing some clothes with him. To avoid assaults from the mob, he was given protection by policemen from the Area N Command, Ijede.

The man, who spoke inaudible pidgin English, stammered that he was brought to the structure by his wife and had been kept in the compound for the past three years. He could not answer further questions posed to him.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the suspected kidnapper had been taken to the Ipakodo Police Division, Ikorodu. A police source added that she would be transferred from the division to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba today (Thursday).

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, however, said no kidnapper’s den had been uncovered in the state.

She said, “A woman was reported this morning to the Ipakodo Police Division to have kidnapped a child, who she claimed she was taking to a church. We went to the church and made some arrests.

“The pastor was not seen at the time of arrest. But there is no kidnapper’s den anywhere.

“In addition, the woman’s case will be transferred to the SCID tomorrow (Thursday) for further investigation.”