Lagos State Police Command has released a statement confirming that the lady who raised alarm in that her husband wanted to use her and their children for rituals, is mentally unstable.
KanyiDaily on Friday published a video of a woman being ”rescued” by passersby from ”suspected kidnappers”, with her claiming that her hubby and his friend were on their way to a secret place to kill her because she found out that he (husband) a ritualist.
A swift intervention from the police helped in rescuing the husband and his brother from being lynched by the mob who had thought they were indeed ritualists.
The Police has released a statement confirming that the woman is indeed mentally unstable and was being taken to the hospital when she raised the false alarm.
Read the statement from the Lagos state police command, Bala Elkana, below:
Arrest of alleged ‘Kidnappers for money ritual’ and rescue of Victims…Police warn against Jungle Justice.
On 6th June ,2019 at about 12.45pm, the Command’s control room received a distress call that a mob action is going on at Lawanson junction, Itere.
Anti crime patrol team led by the Divisional Police Officer Itere, CSP Odey Ogah was prompted deployed to the scene. One Justina Emmanuel ‘f’ of No 10 Bishop Okogie Street Ago and her one and a half year old daughter, Munachisom Agugom were rescued.
Two suspects namely: Joseph Agugom ‘m’ and Paul Agugom ‘ m’ both of the same address with the victms, were rescued from the mobs. They were alleged to have kidnapped the victims for ritual purposes. One Honda CRV car with Registration No. LAGOS FST 587 BU, one LG Phone , one iPhone, One bag containing two flasks, three pieces of rope, one black para military belt and one green beret were recovered.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the victim is married to one of the suspects, Joseph Agugom and the child belongs to both of them. It was also revealed that the victim is suffering from mental illness and she is being transported to hospital when she raised alarm and some members of the public stopped the car and descended on the suspects.
Members of both the suspects and victims family came to the station and made statements to the effect that the victim is suffering from mental illness and was actually being transported to hospital.
The other two children of the victim with her husband, were brought to the Station, contrary to the allegations of the victim that they were killed by the husband for money ritual. The victim was taken to hospital by the Police for medical examination. Police has launched a manhunt on those who participated in the mob action with a view of bringing them to justice.
Members of the Public are strongly advised to be more careful not to jump into conclusions on alarm raised by anybody. Innocent persons have suffered death or bodily harm and inhuman treatment through jungle justice. Members of the Public have the powers to arrest anybody suspected of a crime but the law provides that such persons arrested should be handed over to the Police immediately.
It is only investigating that can determine the truthfulness or otherwise of the allegations. And our laws presumes the accused person to be innocent until proven guilty by Court of competent jurisdiction.
