The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Osun State Command, has sounded the alarm about a troubling increase in child kidnapping within the state.
In response to the surge, the Osun NSCDC has urged parents to remain vigilant and safeguard their children, particularly as schools are on holiday and children are spending more time in public places unsupervised.
Commandant Michael Adaralewa, in a statement released by spokesperson Adeleke Kehinde, expressed deep concern over the recent reports of child kidnappings in August. He revealed that the Command is actively investigating three separate cases of child abduction.
The Commandant also mentioned that several suspects have already been apprehended in connection with these kidnappings.
According to the statement, on August 2, 2024, a one-year-and-three-month-old boy was reported kidnapped in Osunjela, along Ilesa Garage, and the report was filed at the Command’s Headquarters on Iwo-Ibadan Road. The investigation revealed that a woman named Tawa, introduced to the baby’s mother by a family friend named Sodiq, was the prime suspect. Tawa had initially pretended to play with the baby and later abducted him while sending the elder sister on an errand.
On the same day, a three-year-old child went missing from Ifesowapo Street, Owode, Osogbo. The child was last seen playing in a shop, and their current whereabouts remain unknown.
The statement further disclosed that on August 27, 2024, a five-month-old girl, whose parents are deaf and mute, was kidnapped in Agbeye town, Odo-Otin Local Government Area. The abduction occurred while the child’s mother was gathering firewood on a farm. The baby, who was placed under a tree shade, disappeared by the time the mother returned to breastfeed.
Commandant Adaralewa assured the public that the NSCDC is collaborating with other agencies to track down the criminals. He advised employers to thoroughly vet potential employees and urged parents to closely monitor their children, especially during the holiday season.
“Children are precious gifts from God and the future of our country,” he emphasized.