… Rescue 17 year-old kidnapped victim***
The Police in Lagos on Sunday confirmed the death of eight children who mistakenly locked themselves in an abandoned car while playing at Adelayo Str., Agunlayo, Jah Micheal, near the Magbon area of Badagry.
The Spokesman for the Lagos Police Command, Mr. Adekunle Ajisebutu, in a statement, said the incident occurred on Saturday.
Ajisebutu said that their bodies had been recovered and deposited at the Badagry General Hospital’s morgue for an autopsy so as to determine the actual cause of death.
“Notwithstanding the report made to the Police, the Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered a thorough and speedy investigation into the circumstances surrounding their death.
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“The CP also commiserates with the families of the victims,” he said.
The newsmen correspondent who monitored the incident reports that the eight children were found dead in a vehicle parked in front of the owner’s house.
Mr. Suru Avoseh, Commissioner, Lagos State Civil Service Commission, told newsmen that the abandoned car belonged to a retired LASU staff who is now late.
According to him, the car was forced open by one of the children who was the grandchild of the owner while the other seven are Nigerians residing in the area.
“The other seven kids are children of Bureau De Change Operators living in the community.
“The children forced the door of vehicle opened, entered and closed the door.
“No ventilation and nobody knew something was wrong and they suffocated and died.
“It wasn’t a kidnapping incident or any foul play by anyone.
It is unfortunate,” he said.
In another development, Dr Tunde Bakare, the Medical Director, Badagry General Hospital, told newsmen that the children were brought dead to the hospital.
“While we told them to leave them so that we could carry out autopsy one Moslem cleric that followed them disagreed with our staff and said burial should not exceed Saturday.
“Unfortunately, the Police that brought the corpse supported the cleric so we had to release the corpses to them.
In the same vein, the Police Command in Kaduna State says its operatives has rescued a 17 year-old kidnapped victim in Sabon Birnin Daji forest of Igabi Local Government Area of the state.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Jalige, made the announcement in a statement issued on Sunday in Kaduna.
Jalige said that on Saturday, the operatives of the command while on routine patrol around Sabon Birnin Daji forest intercepted sounds of sporadic gunshots coming through the forest.
He said that the operatives decided to move forcefully to find out what could be responsible for such an act.
“The operatives stormed a kidnapper’s den, where a fierce exchange of fire ensued which resulted in the rescue of one Sani Adamu, 17, a resident of old Sabon Gida airport while the bandits escaped with varying bullet wounds
“The said victim was immediately taken to Kutungare Primary Health Care Centre for medical attention.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was abducted while working on a rice farm around Afaka village in Igabi Local Government Area in Kaduna,” he added.
Jalige said that effort was being intensified to ensure that the vicinity was thoroughly combed for a possible rescue of more victims if any and to rid the area of criminal elements.
“The command is calling on the public not to be deterred by these isolated incidences and to report any kidnap incident recorded within their areas so that the authority will act upon promptly.”Jalige said.