Fear in Lagos Community as Child Abducted, Later Released; Resident Recounts Ordeal

By Our Correspondent 

Tension has enveloped a Lagos community following the abduction of a young boy by yet-to-be-identified individuals. The incident, which occurred in early May, has raised safety concerns among residents.

According to a resident, Mr. Ariyibi Babatunde Stephen, the situation began when he reportedly sent the child on an errand, after which the boy was taken away by unknown persons. 

Speaking with newsmen, Ariyibi recounted that he had sighted some suspicious individuals near his residence on May 9, 2024, around 7:00 a.m. while returning from a morning exercise.

Feeling unsafe, he took refuge in a nearby mosque and sent another child to inform his wife to remain indoors. However, the message bearer was also allegedly seized when exiting the compound, heightening the tension in the neighbourhood.

Ariyibi stated that the incident led to his temporary arrest as authorities investigated the matter. He said he was detained at the Ikorodu Police Station for about a week before being released on bail.

“Because of the fear and the pressure the situation created, my family and I decided to relocate temporarily to Ibadan to stay with my mother,” he explained.

He confirmed that the abducted child was eventually released after about two weeks and the police closed the case. No information was provided on whether any arrests were made in connection with the incident.

Residents have called for improved community security and thorough investigation to prevent similar situations.