The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Osun State has issued a warning to parents to ensure their children are not left unattended, citing a rise in child kidnappings.
NSCDC Commandant Michael Adaralewa, in a statement on Wednesday, urged vigilance as children are more likely to be unsupervised during the school holidays. He emphasized that recent reports of child abductions are under investigation, with some suspects already apprehended.
Adaralewa detailed several cases, including:
- August 2: A one-year-old was kidnapped in Osunjela. The suspect, a woman introduced to the family by a friend, took the child while pretending to play with him.
- August 2: A three-year-old went missing at Ifesowapo Street, Osogbo. The child was last seen playing in a shop.
- August 27: A five-month-old girl was abducted from her physically challenged parents while they were on a farm in Agbeye town.
The Commandant reassured the public that the NSCDC is collaborating with other agencies to address these incidents and urged employers and artisans to thoroughly vet potential employees.