A 40-year-old man, Alhaji Adamu Idris, has appealed to authorities and members of the public to help locate his missing 3-year-old son, Naziru Idris, who was allegedly abducted near the Central Mosque in Iwaya, Lagos State.
Alhaji Idris, a native of Dandi Local Government Area in Kebbi State, currently resides at 3 Abiye Street, Iwaya.
He recounted the heartbreaking incident to Radio Nigeria.
According to him, Naziru and his 8-year-old sister, Umeda Idris, had stopped by the mosque to pray after school.
After stepping out of the mosque, a woman allegedly approached the children and handed Umeda ₦500, instructing her to buy ice cream for her younger brother.
Alhaji Idris explained that when Umeda returned with the ice cream, both Naziru and the woman were gone.
Overwhelmed with fear, she burst into tears, and passersby who recognized her quickly raised the alarm and informed her father.
“I rushed to the scene and searched everywhere, but there was no trace of my son,” he said.
The incident was promptly reported at the Sabo Police Station.
Radio Nigeria also spoke with the visibly distressed Umeda, who tearfully recounted how the woman gave her money and disappeared with her brother while she was away.
Residents of Iwaya have condemned the incident and expressed concern over what they described as the deteriorating security situation in the area.
Many claimed that this was not the first case of a child going missing in the community, and they urged the government and security agencies to take swift and decisive action.
Confirming the incident, the Divisional Police Officer at Sabo Police Station, SP Comfort Kehinde Alabi, stated that investigations were underway.
She noted, however, that no similar cases had been officially reported.
She advised that further inquiries be directed to the Police Public Relations Officer.
When contacted, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said he had not yet been briefed on the incident.
Radio Nigeria will continue to follow developments and provide updates as the investigation progresses.
Reporting by Mary Fatile