Baby seen with dispatch rider not stolen – Police
The Lagos State Police Command has refuted reports that a dispatch rider, Williams Tadule, seen with a 10-month-old baby in the Sangotedo area of the state last Saturday is not a kidnapper.
The dispatch rider, according to the police, has been found to be a relation to the baby.
Tadule was almost lynched by a crowd, which accused him of abducting the child found in his courier box.
READ ALSO: Dispatch rider appended with baby in his courier box (video)
The police in a statement signed on Monday by the spokesperson, Adekunle Ajisebutu, said the dispatch rider and mother of the baby were relatives and the baby was fond of the rider.
Lovina Bitrus noted that she allowed the 10-month-old baby to go with Williams when he was crying so as to pacify him, the police clarified.
The statement reads: “On 11th March 2022, a video of a dispatch rider accused of concealing a suspected stolen child in a courier box went viral on the social media, causing apprehension.
“Although the incident was not reported at any police station, however, the Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, fdc, mnim, psc, directed that the incident should be investigated immediately.
“The child was not stolen after all and that he was not kept in the courier box as alleged by the mob.
“The child’s mother, Lovina Biturs, was contacted. It was then revealed that the child was actually taken away and put on the dispatch motorbike by the rider with the consent of his mother.
“According to the mother, the 10-month-old baby is fond of the rider who is a relative, a neighbour and was crying uncontrollably when he (rider) wanted to go pick up something in the neighbourhood.
“To pacify the baby, his mother allowed him to go with the rider. Passersby who saw the child with the rider along Sangotedo area, Ajah on the said day, became suspicious and concluded that the child might have been stolen, raised the alarm which attracted a mob. The mob subsequently pounced on the rider, beating him without finding out the truth.
“The dispatch rider later identified as Williams Tadule was said to have been rescued by the Chairman of the Sunview Estate, Sangotedo.
“The Commissioner of Police, therefore, warns members of the public against any form of jungle justice as such uncivilised action have grave consequences.”
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