Police Inspector General, Mr Alkali Baba Usman
By Banji Ayoola
The Ondo State Police Command has arrested nine suspects for various offences. They include five armed robbery, three child stealing and one child abuse suspects.
A statement by the command’s spokeswoman, SP Funmilayo Odunlami, which gave the details, said the suspects included a woman who was said to be always fond of maltreating her eight year old granddaughter by dipping the girl’s hand inside hot water and keeping her in the house because she stole from her pot of soup until the hand was almost rotten.
It said: “On the 6th of June, 2022, a concerned neighbour reported a case of child abuse against one … ‘f’ Aged 52 of No.13 Abejoye Odojoka, Ondo town.
“Investigation has commenced as the suspect claim she was only trying to use that as a measure to curtail her from eating her soup without her consent.
“The girl has been referred to Trauma center in Ondo town for plastic surgery.”
They also included four armed robbery suspects who allegedly on June 19, 2022 at about 8:30pm, broke into Toptex Hotel at No. 46, Odopetu Street, Akure, in Hunters Group of Nigeria Uniform, shot sporadically into the air and robbed the victim of N185,750.
They include a robbery suspect who, on July 5 , 2022 at about 0900hrs, was arrested while receiving treatment from gunshot wound at Alafiatayo Street, Akure, and another suspect with gunshot wound.
The statement said: “Upon the receipt of the information, a team of detectives moved to the scene and arrested the said suspect with one … ‘m’ aged 31 with gunshot wound.
During interrogation, both suspects confessed to have been shot by a night guard on the night of 4th of July, 2022 where they went to steal iron rod along NEPA area of Akure.”
The statement added: “On the 1st of July, 2022, a case of Child Stealing was reported at Ore Division, a grandmother sent her grand daughter … ‘f’ 5years, on errand and on her way she was accosted by one … ‘f’ of Ilutitun, Okeasa Street, held her and was taking her away but for the neighbours who recognized the child and raised alarm before she was rescued.
“The suspect confessed to have stolen Two (2) kids which she sold for Thirty Thousand Naira Only (₦30,000.00) each while she said her father was the one who sold the children.
“Her father has been arrested and he is helping the Police with necessary information needed.
Also, on the 6th of July, 2022, at Ikare-Akoko, one Mrs. … left her 3 years old child in her shop to buy some toiletries, before she came back, one … Aged 23 went into the shop carried the girl and backed her, as she was about crossing the road, she ran into a motorcyclist, while the motorcyclist and people around where trying to help her, one of the sympathisers realize the the child she was carrying belongs to her neighbour and raised alarm. An android phone was found in her possession, including a bucket.”
She said that the cases are still under investigation, and the suspects will be charged to court after investigation.
