The Lagos State Police Command has denied that a dispatch rider, identified as Williams Tadule, kidnapped a 10-month-old baby in the Sangotedo area of the state.

The dispatch rider had been nabbed in the Sangotedo area of Lagos State on Saturday with a baby inside his courier box.

He was beaten by an angry mob after he was alleged to have abducted the baby.

However, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, while speaking on the incident on Monday, said the dispatch rider got the consent of the child’s mother, Lovina Biturs, to take her baby away.

Ajisebutu, in a statement titled, ‘Child found with dispatch rider not stolen’, noted that Tadule and Biturs were neighbours, adding that the baby was fond of the dispatch rider.

He stated that although the incident was not reported at any police station, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, directed that the incident should be investigated.

The police spokesperson added: “In compliance with the directive, investigation was initiated which led to the discovery of the scene. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the child was not stolen after all and that he was not kept in the courier box as alleged by the mob.

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“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 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.”

He added that the State Commissioner of Police warned “members of the public against any form of jungle justice as such uncivilized action has grave consequences”.

The Star