A commercial motorcyclist on Alubarika Street, in the Bariga area of Lagos State was beaten to a pulp after he fled with three-year-old twin brothers, Joseph and Joel Osinaike.
According to PUNCH, the mother of the twins had brought them to a bus stop beside a First Bank branch in the community to get a motorcycle that would take them to school, when the Okada rider identified as Awaliu Yunusa, stopped to pick the school kids and their mother.
But after placing one of the twins on the tank of the bike and the other on the passenger seat, the Okada rider zoomed off before the mother of the children could join her children on the bike.
No fewer than 15 motorcycles went after the suspect after the mother raised the alarm, a shop owner in the area told the newspaper.
He said,
“Normally, I open shop around 9am, but that day, I came to pick something I forgot in the shop the previous day. After I had picked the item, I saw a woman (the twins’ mother) crying and running after a speeding motorcycle, which carried two kids in uniform.
“I sensed that the kids must have been abducted. I quickly shut my shop and begged some okada riders to help to chase him.
“When he observed that they had almost caught up with him, he left the road and headed towards Alubarika Street. The riders continued chasing him until he was caught.”
A trader identified as Mrs. Olabisi Adedayo, said a mob descended on Yunusa and beat him to a pulp before policemen from the Bariga division arrived at the scene.
Adedayo said;
“They beat him to the point that blood was coming out of his ear. He would have been killed if the policemen had not arrived at the scene. While he was fleeing with the kids, he rode the motorcycle with his right hand and used his left to hold the twin brother at the back.
“I was surprised at how he got the confidence to perpetrate such a crime at that time of the day. I think he got what he deserved,” .
A rights group in the community, Child Protection Network, which is following up the case, advised the police to diligently investigate the matter and ensure that the suspect is properly prosecuted.
The CPN Coordinator in Shomolu, Toyin Oklagogo, said the group had organised a house-to-house sensitisation programme to enlighten parents on the safety of their children.
He said;
“When the incident came to the notice of the group, I went to the Bariga Police Station and a police officer I met assured me that the case would be properly handled. He said the police command headquarters had already been informed. The suspect should be prosecuted.
“On our part, we usually go to community development associations to sensitise parents to the need to be vigilant. Parents should be conscious of their environment and avoid putting the care of toddlers in the hands of older children. Some people are looking for money by all means.”
360chli
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