A suspected abductor, Mathew Alhaji, has been apprehended by policemen attached to Warewa Police Station, Ogun State, for abducting his friend’s daughter (name withheld).
Our correspondent gathered that Alhaji and Mr. Agbotome Denis, who adopted the victim, had been friends for two years.
learnt that the
suspect abducted the 13-year-year-old girl, around the Arepo area of the
state on Sunday, December 14 while she was hawking fura.
Our correspondent also learnt that the
victim and her sister, Taiye, had left home around 9am on the fateful
day, but the latter came back at 1pm.
Her parents said they became confused when she did not return home at about 4pm.
however, learnt
that the victim had almost sold all the wraps of her goods when Alhaji
offered to give her a ride home in his car.
The suspect, who was said to be in his
30s, reportedly threatened to kill her when she raised the alarm that
the car was not heading for her residence on Isijola Avenue, OPIC
Estate.
However, Alhaji was said to have freed the victim last Sunday, seven days after she was locked up in a room.
It was learnt that the suspect was eventually arrested on the same day after the family reported the incident at the station.
Speaking with our correspondent, the victim said her abductor left her in isolation all day although he did not touch her.
She said “Two wraps of fura were left in
my tray when Alhaji saw me and offered to take me home. They were three
inside that car, but I do not know other two. I told him not to bother
that I wanted to collect money from some customers along the way home,
but he insisted and promised to stop by for me to do so.
“As we moved on, I complained that that
was not the route to my house. He shut me up and vowed to kill me if I
shouted. He threw my tray away and took me to a room.
“He would place food before me and lock
me up in the morning until he came back in the evening. He did not do
anything to me. When he eventually released me, I was unable to locate
home. It was my mother’s friend that saw me wandering around and took me
home.”
Denis, a national of Benin Republic, said he could not fathom the rationale behind his friend’s action.
“He always comes to our house and all my
children know him as my friend. There is no misunderstanding between us
and I do not know why he did that,” he said.
The Ogun State Police Spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed Alhaji’s arrest, adding that he would be prosecuted.
He said, “Yes, the man Mathew Alhaji, as he is called, was arrested by the police for abduction.
“He is in our custody. He will be charged to court soon.”
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