The Nigerian Police Command in Lagos has arrested a suspected ritualist simply identified as Temitayo Olafisoye after a failed attempt to kidnap some pupils of a private school on Omole Estate in the Ojodu area of the state.
Olafisoye and an accomplice, Kayode Akinola, were said to have visited the estate on Sunday and started loitering around the school premises.
However, on Monday, a woman, who used her car to convey her children to the school, reportedly parked close to the premises so the pupils could disembark from the vehicle while she got down to open the door for her children to alight.
Olafisoye was said to have run into the driver’s seat of the vehicle in an attempt to drive the kids away.
His plan, however, failed as the woman had switched off the car engine and held the key as she made to open the door for the kids.
The mother, upon observing the suspect’s action, raised the alarm, which caught the attention of the guards, who apprehended Olafisoye.
According to a source, the accomplice, Akinola, fled the scene after observing that their plan had failed.
The source said, “A security from the estate said the man was seen hanging around there since yesterday. The woman came down to go round to the passengers’ side to open the door for her kids.
“The man ran into the car, locked the doors, but unfortunately, the woman had turned off the car engine and alighted with the car key. She raised the alarm when the man entered her car and then security came out. He came to survey how to carry out his plan. His partner ran away.
“It happened this morning (Monday). The suspect said he and his partner came from Ibadan to kidnap children for ritual.”
Olafisoye, who was seen in a video clip kneeling while being interrogated by security guards and other residents on the estate said, “I came from Ibadan. I used to come to Lagos to kidnap children. We will kidnap and put the children inside a vehicle and take them away.
“I have kidnapped a lot of children around Berger, Iyana Ipaja, Ikotun, Iyana Iba. I am Temitayo Olafisoye, my colleague is Kayode Akinola. We came from Apata area in Sango, Ibadan. We usually use the children for money rituals.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the incident said that the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba, for further investigation.
“The case is confirmed. The suspect is Kayode Olafisoye, and he is presently at the Ojodu Police Division. His accomplice is on the run and will eventually be arrested. The case will be transferred to the SCIID,” Hundeyin said.