A grandmother and three adults who were rescued from a mob over allegations of kidnapping 12 children, have denied being kidnappers and ritualists.
The suspects explained that the children were theirs and stated that they were returning from a beach where they had gone to perform some sacrifices.
WITHIN NIGERIA had reported that the police rescued four persons from being lynched by a rampaging mob on the Eko bridge on Wednesday evening in Lagos.
They were accused of kidnapping the 12 children whose ages were between seven months and 12 years.
The vehicle conveying the adults and children were stopped and requested to know their destination. A mob which gathered, descended on the four adults , when some people raised the alarm that the adults were kidnappers.
Explanation by the victims that the children were theirs fell on deaf ears as the mob set the vehicle they drove in ,on fire .
But for the timely arrival of a police team from Ebute-Ero division and the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, the victims would have been set ablaze alongside their vehicle.
According to Vanguard, an eyewitness, Adesina Tunde said , “I witnessed the scene on my way back from work. I saw people gathered, so I stopped to know what was happening. I was told they kidnapped some young children. Luckily police arrived at the nick of time to rescue the suspects from the mob who were bailing for blood.”
The State Police spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, condemned the act of jungle justice and said that among the victims was a woman who identified herself as grandmother of one of the children.
Preliminary investigation, according to him, “shows that they were coming from the beach where they allegedly went to make some sacrifices. The adults also explained that the children were their children and grandchildren.”
“Meanwhile the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department Yaba Panti for further investigations”.
While reiterating the stance of the Command against jungle justice, Hundeyin,said anyone found engaging in such would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
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