Three Year-Old Girl Kidnapped In Church, Found In Ogun

Oluwabunmi Ajelero, the missing three-year-old girl abducted during Sundayservice at the Surulere Baptist Church, Ojuelegba Road, Lagos State, has been found.

According to Lagos Police spokesperson, DSP Kenneth Nwosu,  Olawabunmi has been rescued by a police team drawn from divisions in the state, adding that he's not aware if the family paid any ransom.

“The child has been found in Abeokuta, Ogun State and reunited with her parents. Investigations are ongoing to track down the kidnappers,” he said.

It was gathered that the girl was playing with other children on the church premises at about 1pm when the kidnappers came in through the back of the church and tricked her out with Gala, a popular sausage, before whisking her away on a motorcycle. 

The service was rapidly brought to a halt when one of the toddler’s playmates alerted the congregation of the incident.

It was further learnt the captors had pretended as members of the church and established rapport with children in the church before carrying out the criminal act.

A resident of the area, Simon Joseph, said he saw the girl, but he thought the men had come to the church for service.

“I was waiting for a friend outside when I saw those two men with the girl on a motorcycle. I thought they were family and were going back home until a few minutes later when people rushed out from the church and started looking for the girl,” he said.

Recalling the incident, the father of the girl, Oladapo Ajelero, said, “It happened around 1pm on Sunday. The children finished their service before us and were playing on the church premises; Oluwabunmi was among them.

“Suddenly, one of her friends rushed in and said two men had lured and taken her away through the back of the church. Some people in the area said they saw her sitting between two men on a motorcycle. I learnt they escaped through Nathan Street."

Mr Ajelero, who didn't disclose if a ransom was paid or not, said the kidnappers contacted him on the phone, telling him to cooperate.

*****original reportage by Punch but rewritten here****