Ogun State Police Command has successfully rescued a seven-year-old girl, Mercy Akande, who was kidnapped in the Sango-Ota area by a customer of her mother. The abduction, which caused fear and panic in the community, ended with the child being found in Ayetoro, another part of the state.
The state’s Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, shared the news via her X account (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, assuring the public of the police’s dedication to combating such crimes.
Mercy’s mother, a POS operator, reported the incident after her daughter went missing. According to her, the suspect—a regular customer whose identity remains undisclosed—visited her shop and bought food for the child.
He later sent Mercy on an errand to purchase a sachet of water. While attempting to retrieve the water, the suspect intercepted Mercy and disappeared with her. The mother, preoccupied with attending to other customers, noticed too late that both the man and her daughter were gone.
Thanks to a swift response by the police, Mercy was rescued unharmed. The command also apprehended suspects connected to the crime.
In a brief statement, Odutola said, “Suspected Abduction: 29th December 2024, Mercy Akande found in Ayetoro in Ogun State by an anti-kidnapping team of Ogun State Police Command. CP Lanre Ogunlowo will give more press briefing tomorrow, 30th December, 2024, to the media.”
