Six children detained by UK-based woman rescued from Lagos apartment
The Ejigbo Division of the Lagos State Police Command has rescued six children, aged between six and 13 years, from a flat in Jakande Estate, Oke-Afa area of Lagos, where they had been held for an unspecified period.
The police have yet to determine whether the children – four boys and two girls – were kidnapped or trafficked. The rescued children are : Chidimma, 13; Chisom, 12; Ikechukwu, 10; Ifeoma, 9; Emeka, 8; and Oluchi, 6.
Investigations according to the Police revealed that a United Kingdom based Nigerian woman whose identity is yet to be ascertained, kept the children in the flat. It was also unclear if the children are siblings.
The Chief Security Officer, Ajibola Lalas, sent a WhatsApp message to other estate residents alerting them of the matter.
The message read: “Kidnapping / Child trafficking within our estate at Zone 23. On Saturday, February 15, 2025 , about 7am, a distress call was received by the security team of Jakande Residents Association. Led by our CSO, Architect Ajibola Abiola lalas, on getting to the above named block, the security team noticed that some children: four girls and two boys were in the apartment .
“In the course of interrogation CSO noticed that the children were actually kept inside that flat by a woman that resides in the UK but usually sent one Levinus, still at large, to come around and feed them and go back immediately,
“On getting the facts from the children, the CSO and his team quickly engaged the Ejigbo DPO who quickly swung into action by following the security team to the place. On getting to the house, the DPO and the team of policemen were shocked by what they saw inside the house. The DPO picked the six children to the Ejigbo division in the estate’s security van where extensive interrogation and investigation were carried out. We were able to apprehend a woman at Ago, Okota.”
“We appreciate the new Ejigbo DPO for her prompt action and high professional skills displayed in this matter”.
The CSO encouraged residents be vigilant and urged zonal chairmen to make an effort to know everyone residing in their respective zones.
“If any individual or zone notices suspicious activities of criminals or unscrupulous elements within our community, please quickly bring it to the attention of the estate security team. A secure and safe environment is our primary objective”, he stated.
The CSO and other members of the estate were said to have accompanied the police team from Ejigbo division to the Gender unit of the command in Ikeja, where the case was transferred to, on Tuesday, February 18,2025.
During interrogation by the Police, the children could not assertively state if the woman in the United Kingdom was their biological mother. They told the Police at the woman told them she was their mother.
One of the children, Oluchi , said “ Our mummy is in London. She told us we are from Abia State. Sh I was six years old when I was brought here( Jakande estate). She is the one that told us she is our mother. She usually sends uncle Livinus to bring food for us , after giving us our food , he would leave. We stay alone in the house”.
Spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, CSP Benjamin Hudenyin, who confirmed the rescue of the children, the Police had begun investigation into the matter.
He said “ Investigations is still on going to get others at large while the said flat is under lock and key”. (Vanguard, but headline rejigged)
