A Closed Circuit Television Camera at a supermarket in the Abule Egba area of Lagos State has shown that a woman, identified only as Mama Oyin, who disguised as a customer, strapped a one-year-old girl, Fehintola Lawal, to her back before allegedly escaping with the girl.
The footage, obtained by the police and Fehintola’s family members on Thursday, captured how Mama Oyin walked around the supermarket, as she searched for items, a few minutes before the alleged abduction.
PUNCH Metro had reported on Thursday that Mama Oyin met Fehintola’s mother and grandmother, who were traders in the Abule Egba area, on Saturday, and said she needed some items, which were said to be unavailable.
It was reported that the suspect had returned to the traders on Sunday, telling them that she newly moved to the area.
It had been reported that Mama Oyin returned on Monday around 11am and begged for direction to where she could buy the items in Agege, after which the girl’s mother offered to go with the suspect, who was said to be friendly.
Fehintola was reported to have fallen asleep and Mama Oyin was said to have requested to strap the one-year-old to her back, while she (Mama Oyin) handed over her bag to Lola.
After boarding a tricycle to Abattoir junction and taking a commercial motorcycle to Oko Oba, Agege, the women were said to have taken separate motorcycles, during which Mama Oyin disappeared with the rider on Olaniyi Street.
The matter was said to have been reported at the Abattoir and Elere police divisions the same day.
Fehintola’s aunt, Lolade Oseni, had told PUNCH Metro that the bag Mama Oyin dropped with Lola contained papers cut to currency sizes, adding that the phone numbers she gave them did not connect.
It was learnt on Thursday that the police had obtained a CCTV footage showing the suspect with Fehintola in the supermarket.
In the footage also obtained by the publication, Mama Oyin with the child on her back and Lola Lawal were seen holding yellow polythene bags and searching for items to buy in the supermarket.
Mama Oyin, who wore a black gown with dotted white strips, had after two minutes proceeded to the exit followed by the victim’s mother.
The aunt, Oseni, told our correspondent that she hoped the police would rescue Fehintola as the family members were all distraught over the incident.
She said:
“Mama Oyin did not sleep in our house on Saturday and Sunday when she visited us. She went back to her supposed house when it was late. The address she left in our church which she followed us to on Sunday is also fake.
“We obtained the footage on Thursday. The police worked with the supermarket to release the video to us. We are hoping that our daughter will be safely rescued by the police. We have also gone to Eleweran, Abeokuta, Ogun State, to see the police authorities there.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said the command was collaborating with the Ogun State Police Command as the search for Fehintola had been extended.
