by Rachel Ogbu

Two toddlers living in the same compound in Ketu have been missing since Friday January 25, throwing residents at Taike Street, Ketu Lagos into confusion suspecting kidnapping.

Toheeb Adedokun and Falilu Tajudeen both three years old were playing in front of the compound when suddenly, they disappeared without a trace, reports claim.

Narrating what occurred, Toheeb’s father, Rasaq Adedokun, said he was at work when his wife called at about 9pm saying she could not find Toheeb. She also said people had been looking for him and Falilu since 6pm.

“I went back home and we began a renewed search for them all over the place. He (Toheeb) does not go out of our compound, so I don’t know what happened that day.”

“We were told that a woman selling alcoholic drinks close to our street claimed that she saw the two kids. On getting to her, we met a man who promised to bring the kids to us by 1am and he spoke with so much confidence.

“When we called him at the said time, he told us to call again in an hour. When he was not forthcoming, we reported the matter to the police at Ketu division.”

Razaq, a commercial driver who has two other children said policemen at the Ketu Police Division, advised them to also make a report at Alapere Division and Mile 12 Police Post.

Falilu’s father, Moshood who is a carpenter was equally in shock. According  to reports there was an attempted kidnapping in the same Ketu area about two weeks ago but Moshood said since he had lived in the compound for over eight years, no child had ever gone missing even though many families live in the house.

Spokesperson for the state police command, Ngozi Braide, said there are efforts to ensure that the children are returned to their parents safe and sound.

“So far, two people have been arrested and they are at Ketu Police Station. However, they will soon be transferred to SARS for further investigation. One of the suspects had told the parents that he would get the children back and claimed to have information as to their whereabouts last Friday,” she said.

It is not the first time a child has been taken. Reports gathered that about two weeks ago, a five-year-old boy, Dayo Olubajo, escaped kidnapping on Ogunkoya Street. A suspect was caught.

 “On January 15, 2012, Dayo, who had measles at the time, came to see me where I sell rice. On his way back, a man kidnapped him. The man was apprehended by a young man. The suspect was later taken to Ketu Police Division,” Dayo’s mother, Olawunmi, said.