Operatives of Ekiti State Police Command on Thursday foiled an attempt to kidnap three pupils in an operation jointly carried out by a team comprising police, army, and Nigerian civil defence corps.

Police spokesman, Sunday Abutu, in a statement in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, said the kidnapper identified as Mrs. Tawa Kazeem attempted to abduct three schoolchildren along Bank Road, Ado-Ekiti.

Abutu said the joint patrol set up by the government acted swiftly following a tip-off by some residents and foiled the kidnap operation and rescued the pupils.

“On Thursday, about 2.20 pm, some residents around INEC Office, Bank Road, Ado-Ekiti raised an alarm that a strange woman, one Mrs. Tawa Kazeem, attempted to abduct three school children along Bank Road, Ado-Ekiti.

“Upon the receipt of the information from a good Samaritan, a team of joint patrol, comprising the police, army, and other security agencies put in place by the Ekiti State Governor was dispatched to the scene immediately. The team was able to rescue the children and apprehend the suspect.

The children narrated that the woman pleaded with them to help her carry her bag containing some items to an unknown destination. The children said that they refused initially, but after a few moments of conversing with the woman, they became unconscious and started following the woman with her bag.

“It took the quick intervention of some mechanics around who noticed their suspicious movement to stop them. When asked about the children, she claimed that the children belonged to her. But the scenario changed immediately when the children countered her that she was not their mother.

“During interrogation by the personnel of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the woman could not satisfactorily state her mission and reason for trying to lead the school children to an unknown destination,” he said.

Abutu, added that the suspect would be charged to court at the conclusion of the investigation. (The Nation)

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