Schoolgirls' Kidnapping Continues as 6-year-old Pupil is Abducted in Lagos Army Barracks (Photo)

 

According to reports, an unidentified persons at the Ojo Military Cantonment in Lagos, has abducted a six-year-old schoolgirl, Oluwajuwon Akinsanya who is a primary one pupil of Maryam Bliss International School in the Ojo area of Lagos.

 

It was gathered that she was sleeping in the room with her parents in Block II, Flat 5, Engineer Quarters, when she was whisked away by the abductors as the men also reportedly stole the phone, money and recharge cards (vouchers) of the victim’s parents.

 

The pupil's mother, Yetunde, told a correspondent that the family had yet to be contacted by the abductors since the incident happened in January, adding that she had visited more than 200 places seeking help, and that she was sexually harassed in one of the religious houses she visited.

 

"However, when I checked the place, I didn’t find her. It was when I got to the kitchen and met the door opened that I knew intruders had come in. They came in from the kitchen. They took my bag and removed all the money there. They also emptied my purse where I kept the recharge cards I sold to people. My husband’s phone was equally taken away," Yetunde said.

 

She said she reported the matter to the Ojo Barracks Military Police and the victim’s father was arrested, adding that the military authorities said her husband was the first suspect. He was, however, later released and three other suspects arrested.

 

The suspects – Mercy Akere, Ayodeji Akinsanya and Segun Akinsanya, were alleged to have been accused by Yetunde of issuing threats against her family.

 

According to a correspondent, the military later released the suspects, saying there was no evidence against them.

 

Oluwajuwon’s mother, who expressed dissatisfaction at the way the military were handling the case, said she asked for a transfer to a civilian police station, but the Officer-in-Charge, Major Obot, refused.

 

Major Obot, when contacted, declined comment, saying he was not authorised to speak with reporters. "I am not the right person to talk about the case. The child’s father is a military officer and the case is being handled by the military because it happened in the barracks," he said.

 

Meanwhile, the victim’s father, Sunday, a sergeant, said he did not suspect his relatives or girlfriend, adding that he was also not in support of the matter being transferred from the military.

 

"My wife is only suspecting my relatives and girlfriend because before this incident happened, we had a misunderstanding. I am a military officer and I can tell you that investigations are ongoing. I suspect those who surround my wife, but I know soon, God will expose those behind this," he said.