•Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Oluwajuwon (inset) Photos: castle.com; Samson Folarin
A six-year-old schoolgirl, Oluwajuwon
Akinsanya, has been abducted by unidentified persons at the Ojo Military
Cantonment, Lagos.
Akinsanya, has been abducted by unidentified persons at the Ojo Military
Cantonment, Lagos.
The primary one pupil of Maryam Bliss
International School, Ojo, was said to be sleeping in the room with her
parents in Block II, Flat 5, Engineer Quarters, when she was whisked
away by the abductors.
International School, Ojo, was said to be sleeping in the room with her
parents in Block II, Flat 5, Engineer Quarters, when she was whisked
away by the abductors.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the men also stole the phone, money and recharge cards (vouchers) of the victim’s parents.
Her mother, Yetunde, told punch newspaper that the family had yet to be contacted by the abductors
since the incident happened in January.
She stated that she had visited more
than 200 places seeking help, adding that she was sexually harassed in
one of the religious houses she visited.
than 200 places seeking help, adding that she was sexually harassed in
one of the religious houses she visited.
Yetunde said, “On January 20, 2016, around 4.30am, while we were asleep, I suddenly heard a loud noise and I woke up.
“I checked the floor where my daughter
normally slept, but I didn’t see her. Her younger brother, Enoch, was on
the bed with my husband and I. I thought she went to the toilet to
urinate.
normally slept, but I didn’t see her. Her younger brother, Enoch, was on
the bed with my husband and I. I thought she went to the toilet to
urinate.
“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.
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.”
She said she reported the matter to the
Ojo Barracks Military Police and the victim’s father was arrested. She
said the military authorities said her husband was the first suspect.
Ojo Barracks Military Police and the victim’s father was arrested. She
said 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.
Akinsanya and Segun Akinsanya –were alleged to have been accused by
Yetunde of issuing threats against her family.
Our correspondent gathered that the military later released the suspects, saying there was no evidence against them.
Yetunde, a trader, said a member of her husband’s family took her to an orthodox church for help.
She alleged that the pastor after giving her a fake prophecy of her daughter’s whereabouts, sexually harassed her.
“I complained to my in-law who took me to his church, and he called the pastor in my presence to challenge him.
“The pastor told him on the telephone
that he only used a candle to rub my breasts because that was what my
child sucked; and my private parts, because that was where she came out
from. He said he did it so that the deliverance would be quicker,” she
said.
that he only used a candle to rub my breasts because that was what my
child sucked; and my private parts, because that was where she came out
from. He said he did it so that the deliverance would be quicker,” she
said.
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.
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.
When contacted, Major Obot declined comment, saying he was not authorised to speak with PUNCH Metro.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
He said, “My wife is only suspecting my
relatives and girlfriend because before this incident happened, we had a
misunderstanding.
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.”
you that investigations are ongoing. I suspect those who surround my
wife, but I know soon, God will expose those behind this.”
Sunday’s brother, Segun, who was among those initially arrested, denied knowing anything about the abduction of the child.
He said he had not been in talking terms
with Yetunde prior to the incident, adding she wanted to get back at
him with the incident.
with Yetunde prior to the incident, adding she wanted to get back at
him with the incident.
A counsel in the Femi Falana Chamber,
Mrs. Olakitan Boluagbaje, said the chamber was preparing a petition to
the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, for the case to be
transferred from the military police.
Mrs. Olakitan Boluagbaje, said the chamber was preparing a petition to
the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, for the case to be
transferred from the military police.
She said, “I can’t imagine that such a
thing could happen in a military barracks. And the way the military
officers are handling the matter is pathetic.
thing could happen in a military barracks. And the way the military
officers are handling the matter is pathetic.
“The main actors in this case are
civilians, and it is only reasonable that the case is transferred to the
police. We will be writing the CP to request the transfer of the case
to him.”
civilians, and it is only reasonable that the case is transferred to the
police. We will be writing the CP to request the transfer of the case
to him.”