What some People can do for Money (A Man Kidnapped and Strangled 7-year-old Boy)

The prime suspect in the kidnap and killing of a toddler at Mumako Estate, Okerube, Ikotun Lagos, Onyeka Patrick has confessed to why he kidnapped and later killed his victim, a seven-year-old boy. The suspect who hails from Anambra State, said he kidnapped the boy due to greed and later killed him because he feared being a neighbour, the boy could easily recognize him after collecting ransom from the parents. The suspect, who was paraded yesterday by the Police Public Relations Officer; Lagos State Command, Ngozi Braide at the Command Headquarters, GRA Ikeja told journalists that he initially planned to kidnap the boy and demand a ransom of N5 million but later had a rethink and killed him instead.

He later hid the boy’s body inside a soak away pit of an uncompleted building in the neighborhood, about 200 metres from the victim’s residence. Despite killing the boy, he went ahead to demand a ransom for N5 million from the parents, even as it was contained in a letter to the boy’s father. According to him, he planned to collect the ransom and escape. The suspect said the kidnap was easy since he lived next building to the victim’s residence; saying he lured the boy to his apartment, as he had been friendly with him. It was gathered that after the heinous act, he started feeling guilty and his disposition and countenance changed. His brother, who was aware the toddler was missing later handed the suspect over to the police at the Ikotun Police Division.

According to the police spokesperson; the DPO Ikotun Division transferred the suspect to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad SARS on January 17, 2013; five days after the alleged crime was committed. She said: “on January 17, 2013, the above mentioned suspected kidnapper of a 7-yearold boy, Onyeka Patrick was transferred to SARS Ikeja for further investigation.  The suspect was thoroughly interrogated by SARS detectives and he later confessed to have kidnapped the boy on January 12, 2013, strangled him and concealed the body in a sack at No. 16, Avenue Mumako Estate, Okerube Ikotun, the next building to the victim’s No.14, of same street. He later hid the corpse inside a sock away pit in an uncompleted building. “He later led SARS operatives to recover the decomposed body now deposited at the Isolo General Hospital Mortuary for autopsy. Until the matter was transferred to SARS, he never owned up to the crime but after all investigations are concluded, the suspect would be charged for murder.”

In a related development, one Tope Akingbami was also paraded for kidnapping a five year- old boy at Ketu area of Lagos. It was gathered the suspect conspired with three others still at large to kidnap the boy simply known as Dayo.  However, mother of the victim who was around at time of the incident raised an alarm and people gave a chase of the suspected kidnappers. In the process, Tope Akingbemila was arrested, but the other three suspects escaped.  Tope, in his confessional statement, said they had successfully executed two other kidnappings and collected huge ransom. He is still helping the police to track down the fleeing gang members.