Police Arrest Suspected Kidnapper

The Edo State Police Command on Thursday arrested a middle-aged man for allegedly attempting to kidnap a little child at New Benin, Oredo Local Government Area of the state. It was learnt that the man, whose identify could not be ascertained as of the time of filing this report, had parked his car at Owoseni junction, along Mission road, picked up the child and put him in the boot of his car.

It was gathered that the rescued victim, said to be a little boy, had just crossed over from the other side of the road‎ when the suspect suddenly bundled him into the boot of his car. He was said to have entered his car and was about driving off when he was intercepted by some traders and passersby who saw his action as unusual. A source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the suspect was about to be attacked by some angry youths who feared that he could be a ritualist, before he was arrested by police officers from the New Benin division. Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Stephen Onwochei, told our correspondent in an interview that the victim was rescued unhurt. He also said investigation had commenced to reveal the reason behind the man’s action. Onwochei said, “Thanks to the vigilance of the people around who intercepted the vehicle. And a little after that, our men arrived at the scene and the man was accordingly arrested. The child was rescued unhurt. “As I speak, the fellow has been arrested. Investigation will reveal what was his motive for picking up and putting that child inside his boot in an attempt to run away. “‎This brings us to our usual appeal to members of the public that you can be the better police of your environment; if not for the vigilance of the civilians who were around, perhaps, this man would have picked that child and gone to wherever he wanted to take him to.”