By Emegwoako C. Paschal
The Lagos State Command has confirmed the arrest of Joy Kolapo, a 28-year-old woman, for allegedly kidnapping two boys aged three and seven in Lagos and Oyo states.
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the suspect’s arrest on Saturday, November 19th, came after a week-long investigation.
“Following a painstaking investigation and intelligence gathering into the kidnapping of a three-year-old boy, Bright, on October 27, 2022 in the Ejigbo area of Lagos State, detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Lagos State Command, have arrested one serial kidnapper, Joy Kolapo ‘f,’ aged 28.”
“On November 12, 2022, the suspect was arrested in Omi Adio area of Oyo State with another victim, one Moses ‘m’ aged seven whom she had kidnapped in Olopo Meta area of Oyo State,” a police spokesman said.
According to Hundeyin, the police investigation led to Bright’s rescue in the Akute area of Ogun State on the same day the suspect was arrested.
According to him, further investigation revealed that the suspect was Bright’s parents’ neighbor and had received N55,000 from his parents in exchange for his return.
“Thereafter, the suspect took the victim to her friend’s shop in Akute, begging her friend to babysit the child while she went shopping but never returned.” “The friend immediately notified the Police at Ojodu Abiosun Division in Akute of the abandoned child,” he said.
“After leaving Akute, the suspect traveled down to Oyo State, kidnapped another victim, Moses, and demanded and received N20,000 from his parents before being apprehended.”
“The boys were rescued unharmed and reunited with their parents.” Meanwhile, the suspect has been arraigned.”
