The Ondo State Police Command, on Thursday, cautioned parents against indifference to their children, following the recent kidnap of a four-month-old baby and his nine-year-old brother in Okitipupa.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the caution was against the backdrop of the Jan. 6 kidnap of two siblings outside their home at Omawa Street in Okitipupa by a man, who is now in police net.
The command’s Spokesman, CSP Femi Joseph told NAN on the telephone in Okitipupa that it would not have been easy for the kidnap suspect to perpetrate the act if the parents had been vigilant.
The suspect, whose name was given as Nsem Godwin, was said to have passed through several shortcuts after the kidnap to Ona Opemipo Street, where he was reportedly accosted by neighbours due to the cry of the nine-year-old child.
Upon interrogation, the suspect was said to have feigned insanity and refused to answer any of the neighbours’ questions, a situation that prompted them to hand him over to the Okitipupa divisional police station.
The suspect was later transferred to the anti-kidnapping squad at the police headquarters in Akure.
The police spokesman warned parents to always keep an eye on their children and ensure that they were always within sight.
“The suspect is in our custody; investigation is on and he will be charged to court after the investigation is concluded on the matter.
“Parents need to be very conscious of the movement of their children and ensure that they are in safe hands when they are not around.
“Some criminals are just out there loitering around the streets to perpetrate their evil acts, especially when they know that no one is monitoring them. So parents need to be conscious of their children and wards,” he said.
