In Iwaya, a bustling community in Lagos State’s Yaba Local Government Area, fear and tension grip residents after a disturbing spate of child abductions. A group of kidnappers, preying on children, has devised a chilling method: luring their victims with yoghurt.
At least five children have disappeared in recent weeks, with the kidnappers targeting unsuspecting kids, often accompanied by older siblings. Witness accounts describe a woman, frequently seen in a hijab, who deceives the children with small errands before abducting them.
The most recent case occurred on Friday, January 11, 2025. Two siblings, eight-year-old Ubueda and three-year-old Mohammed Naziru, were returning from Jumat prayers when tragedy struck. A woman reportedly disguised in a hijab approached them, handed Ubueda a crumpled ₦500 note, and asked her to buy yoghurt worth ₦150.
“When she returned with the yoghurt, her younger brother was gone,” shared an eyewitness. The kidnapper had vanished with the three-year-old boy, leaving his family devastated.
Father’s Agony and Community Outcry
The children’s father, Alhaji Idris Adamu, recounted the horrifying moment he received the news. “I got a call at about 1 pm last Friday, informing me that my son had been kidnapped,” he said, his voice heavy with emotion.
Despite desperate searches, no trace of Naziru was found until Monday, January 13, when the alleged kidnapper resurfaced in the community. Ubueda immediately identified her as the woman who had sent her on the yoghurt errand.
As soon as she was recognized, the suspect attempted to flee but was captured by a mob. Police from the Sabo Division intervened just in time to prevent her from being lynched. She was subsequently transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further questioning.
However, the woman has reportedly refused to disclose the boy’s whereabouts, claiming to be mentally unstable. “The woman is not mad; she is only pretending,” insisted Alhaji Adamu.
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Disturbing Evidence Found
Upon her arrest, officers discovered alarming evidence in the suspect’s possession. “We found pieces of paper where she wrote an address to keep the boy and instructions on the injection to give him to make him sleep,” revealed Alhaji Adamu.
The papers also contained numerous phone numbers, further deepening the mystery. “She should tell us where she kept him so that we can go and get him before any harm befalls him,” the distraught father pleaded.
Adamu also questioned the suspect’s suspicious behavior, noting that she had altered her appearance after her arrest. “When she was apprehended, she had braids, but she later loosened them to look unkempt, as if she hadn’t combed her hair in months,” he said.
Police Investigation Ongoing
Detectives at the SCID are working to unravel the case and determine the suspect’s mental state. Authorities plan to take her to a psychiatric facility as part of the investigation.
Meanwhile, a man who initially claimed to be her father was briefly detained but later released.
As the investigation continues, Alhaji Adamu remains hopeful but anguished. “All I want is my son. I pray every day for his safe return,” he said.
The community is calling on law enforcement to intensify efforts to locate Mohammed Naziru and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Residents remain on high alert, urging parents to closely monitor their children and avoid leaving them unattended in public spaces. For now, the shadow of fear lingers over Iwaya, as families hope for an end to this disturbing series of abductions.