Customer allegedly kidnaps PoS operator’s 7-year-old daughter
The family of seven-year-old Mercy Akande has been plunged into distress following her mysterious disappearance on December 23, 2024, in the Sango Ota area of Ogun State. The unsettling incident occurred near her mother’s Point of Sale (PoS) terminal, where Mercy was last seen.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that a regular male customer, who had built a rapport with Mercy, was behind the disappearance. According to Jude, a relative of the victim, the man had frequently visited the PoS terminal to conduct transactions, during which he often bought food for Mercy and gave her money.
On the day of the incident, the man reportedly bought food for himself and Mercy before sending her on an errand to buy sachet water. Jude explained, “On her way back, he intercepted her midway to collect the water. The mother saw this interaction but was distracted by other customers. By the time she turned back to check on Mercy, both of them were gone.”
READ ALSO: Alumni group opposes Nigerian govt’s plan to rename University of Abuja
Despite immediate efforts by Mercy’s mother to locate her, the search proved futile. Attempts to contact the suspect were unsuccessful, as his phone became unreachable shortly after the incident.
The family reported the case to the police, but their experience has raised questions about police response to such cases. Jude disclosed that the mother was asked to pay ₦10,000 to file a formal report and an additional ₦30,000 to track the suspect’s phone number. “She paid ₦8,000 to write her statement and another ₦2,000 to print Mercy’s pictures. To track the suspect’s phone number, she was told to get a court affidavit, which was delayed due to the holiday,” Jude lamented.
The family’s plight has sparked outrage on social media, with many calling for better police response and more stringent measures to protect children from similar incidents.
When contacted for comments, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, did not respond to calls or messages.
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va74ZvU2v1IqKByXoX3d
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com
