An
apprentice, identified only as Grace, has allegedly absconded with the two
children of her employer, Mrs. Suliyat Azeez, in the Okokomaiko area of Lagos
State.
The
victims were identified as Farouk, 4; and six-year-old Kafayat.
It was learnt that Grace
fled with the children on Friday, less than 24 hours after she resumed
apprenticeship at their mother’s workshop on Ora Street, PPL bus stop,
Okokomaiko.
It
was learnt that the children had returned from school and gone to their
mother’s shop.
Grace
was said to have claimed she was going out to buy food and asked the children
to accompany her.
She
was, however, alleged to have absconded with the children.
Nobody
had her contact or knew her place of residence.
The
victims’ mother, Suliyat, said she had gone for a meeting of hairdressers when
the incident happened.
She
said, “The girl came to my shop on Wednesday and said she wanted to learn
hairdressing. I asked who her guarantor was because she said she came alone.
She said she stayed with a friend in the area and she would have come with her,
but the friend had gone to work.
“On
Thursday, she returned and bought soft drinks and biscuits to celebrate the
commencement of her apprenticeship. I even shared the drinks with people. That
was the day she started working.
“On
Friday, I planned to go to her place of residence, but I had to first attend a
meeting of hairdressers in the community. When I returned from the meeting
around 4pm, I was told nobody knew where she went to with my children and we
started searching for them. I believe she hypnotised my children.”
The
victims’ father, Fatai, a mechanic, said the family had reported the incident
at the Ojo and Okokomaiko police divisions.
He
said other efforts at finding the children had been abortive.
“The
girl just identified herself as Grace. She should be about 20 years old. My
wife couldn’t collect her phone number because her phone (Suliyat) was faulty.
She just decided to admit her because the girl asked for help. We don’t know
any of her relatives and friends,” Fatai added.
A
relative, Mr. Sanni Saidi, blamed Suliyat for not getting a snapshot of the suspect,
adding that it could be difficult to find her.
He
said, “On the day of her induction, Suliyat could have taken her snapshot. She
could have taken her phone number. But she didn’t do all these and I think she
should take the blame. This shows the extent that people could go to execute
their devilish intentions. How could you steal two children without any fear of
God? We appeal to the security agencies to help us find the children.”
The
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said the matter was not
reported at the police stations.
She
urged the parents to go back to the station nearest to them, “so that investigation
can commence.”
Source:The
Punch
Tags
Society