Kidnappers free Ogun schoolgirl abducted in Lagos

Precious
| credits: File photo

Precious Nwaigwe, the 15-year-old girl kidnapped in the Ajah area of Lagos State, while on her way to school in Ogun State, has been returned to Lagos about a year after her abduction.

PUNCH Metro learnt that detectives at the State Criminal Investigation Department, together with men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, rescued the girl.

She was said to have been dropped off in the Obalende area of Lagos State on Friday.

Our correspondent had exclusively reported on January 27, 2015, that Precious had come to Lagos from her school to spend the holiday with her father in the Ajah area of the state.

Her father, Okoro, had told our correspondent that he took her to the Sangotedo Motor Park when it was time for her to go back to school.

He said he bid his daughter farewell on the fateful day, May 24, 2014, without knowing the vehicle she boarded was owned by kidnappers.

It was reported that a few weeks after the journey, the Nwaigwes got a call from Precious’s school, Ikenne Community College, Ikenne, Ogun State, that she had yet to arrive in the school.

They were said to have reported to policemen from the Ajah division.

It was reported that about two months after the kidnap, the victim’s parents got a call from the kidnappers in the Niger Republic, who demanded a ransom of $100,000.

In a follow-up report, our correspondent reported that the kidnappers threatened to make Precious work for the ransom, if it was not paid.

Our correspondent later reported that Precious had been sold to a pimp, who told her parents that “it is just business”.

The victim’s father had expressed helplessness and frustration, saying the family had become bankrupt from spending much without getting any result.

The case had been transferred from the Ajah Police Division to the SCID, where a number of arrests were made.

The matter was later taken over by SARS, where it was discovered that the victim had been sold to Libya.

It was also didcovered that a relative of the girl was involved in the kidnap.

Our correspondent learnt that one of the suspects, Kelvin Kizito, opened up to the police after undergoing a series of interrogations.

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The source said, “This Kelvin had been arrested for some time now, and he had been reluctant to release information.

“But he was made to undergo some serious interrogations and drillings, and afterwards, he said he should be allowed access to a phone.

“When he was given the phone, he called one of his people and told them to release the girl because the game was up.

“The girl was released from Libya and on Friday she arrived in Lagos. She was dropped off at Obalende.”

Precious’ father confirmed that his daughter had been found.

He said, “Yes, she’s been found. I am just leaving the village and coming to Lagos as well. I will give you some more details later.”

The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Police Command, Kenneth Nwosu, said he would get back to our correspondent, but had yet to do so as of press time.