Joy Anyim
A total of two children have been declared missing in the last three weeks, in Ilasamaja community of Lagos State.
The community alleged that there was a syndicate responsible for the mysterious disappearance of children in the area, as two earlier attempts by the child theft syndicate were foiled by the community.
Information had it that on August 14, two toddlers, Raphael Ogunwole and Godwin Mbachu, were stolen by a man, at their residence on No. 10 , Oluwakenmi Street, Ilasamaja.
Parent of one of the abducted minors, Mr. Christian Mbachu, told how the children were abducted. He said, “Raphael and Godwin were born the same year and we all live in the same compound. Being that they were born the same week, they became too close that they play together.
“On the fateful day, they were playing outside the house and when my wife came to call Godwin to eat, she did not see him, but she did not entertain any fear as she concluded he might be in his friend’s house .
“My wife went to Raphael’s house and none of them was there. So, she raised the alarm and the two families and other sympathisers went to the streets in search of them. My wife called me on phone, telling me about the unfortunate development. “When I came back home , I joined the search party, but we couldn’t find them. It was around 9:00pm that a man told me that he saw the kids with a familiar face that he used to see in a barber’s shop, near my house.
“The man said he saw the man in company with the kids, but he did not suspect that they were being stolen as the face was a familiar one. He told us that the man was guiding the children and they were moving towards Cele area. We ran to the area, but our children had gone far. My family is in shambles; my family and that of our neighbour are devastated. My heart burns . I am confused.”
While appealing to the Lagos State Government and the Lagos State Police Command to rescue their missing children, as well as arrest the child-stealing syndicate, Mbachu said, “We are appealing to the state government, the police and Nigerians to help us look for our children. We are also appealing to those who abducted the minors to release them. Please, people who know where the children are or know who is with them should contact us with telephone numbers : 08038247696 and 08022853375 or contact the nearest police Station.”