The family of a yet-to-be-identified 8-year-old girl has expressed their excitement as the security outfit in Ondo State, known as the Amotekun, rescues their child from a kidnapper disguised as a scavenger in Akure, the state capital, News About Nigeria reports.
The father of the victim, Bose James, while speaking to newsmen, stated that he and his family remained grateful to the state government and the Amotekun for stepping into the situation on time and rescuing his child from the hand of the kidnapper, who had disguised himself as a scavenger.
Recounting the incident, James stated that the attempted kidnapping happened when he told his daughter to go to the backyard and use the toilet while he was outside the house washing his clothes and his mother, the victim’s grandmother, was watching television inside the house.
According to him, the incessant cry of his daughter had alerted his mother, who then went to the backyard to find out why the problem was and discovered that the man whom they thought was a scavenger was actually a kidnapper.
His mother’s shout for help had alerted him, and before he could get to the scene, the kidnapper had hit her with a heavy wood while she tried to stop him from leaving with the victim.
“The kidnapper continued to attack whoever attempted to rescue my child from the sac bag where he kept her, but I held on to him, preventing him from escaping,” he said.
He further noted that a bike man had come to the rescue and rushed off to contact the Amotekun operatives stationed at the Maronu area of Araromi Road in Akure, adding that the corps responded swiftly, rescued them, and arrested the suspected kidnapper
Confirming the incident, the State Commander of the security outfit, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed that the suspected kidnapper had hit the little girl with a charm, immediately tucked her in a sac bag, and was about to leave before his nemesis caught up with him.
He also revealed that, upon interrogation, the kidnapper confessed to being in the trade for a while.
Adeleye mentioned that further investigations will be conducted into the case before handing the suspect over to the Court.
He noted that the victim is doing well, and the grandmother, who was rushed to the hospital after sustaining various degrees of wounds while trying to rescue the victim, is responding to treatments.
Adeleke therefore urged parents and guardians to always keep watchful eyes on their wards when they are playing around.
