Child Found With Despatch Rider Not Abducted – Police
Police in Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, have refuted claims that a child found in the courier box of a despatch motorbike was abducted.
Police in Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria says a 10-month-old infant found with a despatch rider was not abducted.
HumAngle reported how a dispatch rider was caught with a baby inside the courier box on his motorbike in the Sangotedo area of Lagos.
The police had earlier said that the incident was not reported at any police division in the state.
Adekunle Ajisebutu, the spokesperson for Lagos command said Abiodun Alabi, the state Commissioner of Police, directed that efforts should be intensified to locate the despatch rider and the parents or guardians of the child to enable the police to investigate the incident.
In a statement on Monday, March 14, however, contrary to reports on social media, Adekunle Ajisebutu, police spokesman, refuted the claims that the child was kept in the courier box. He said the mother of the baby and the rider are relatives the child is fond of. “The child’s mother, Lovina Biturs, was contacted, it was then revealed that the child was taken away and put on the d(e)spatch motorbike by the rider with the consent of his mother,” the police statement said.
The statement also highlighted how the mother of the 10-month-old baby said the child is fond of the rider who is a relative, a neighbour and was crying uncontrollably when he (rider) wanted to go pick up something in the neighbourhood.
“To pacify the baby, his mother allowed him to go with the rider. Passersby who saw the child with the rider along Sangotedo area, Ajah on the said day, became suspicious and concluded that the child might have been stolen, raised the alarm which attracted a mob. The mob subsequently pounced on the rider, beating him without finding out the truth,” the police statement read.
According to the statement, the despatch rider, later identified as Williams Tadule, was said to have been rescued by the Chairman of the Sunview Estate, Sangotedo.
He said Abiodun Alabi, the state commissioner of police warned members of the public against jungle justice as such uncivilised actions have grave consequences.
Nigeria is plagued with lots of social vices, including jungle justice, a problem that infringes on fundamental rights of citizens due to the failure of the country’s judicial system.
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