A young lady, Yetunde Awosanya, also known as T-girl has been arrested for abducting a two-month-old baby in a Lagos market.
T-girl abducted little Kudus Adebowale at a market in Badagry Roundabout area of Lagos State where Kudus’s mother sells biscuits.
Report says T-girl was well known to most of the traders in the market and had lived in the community for over four years until a few months ago when she travelled.
T-girl was said to have returned to the neighbourhood last week and went to the market, where she was treated to a warm reception around 9am on Thursday.
It was gathered that she approached Alimat, who was breastfeeding the baby, Kudus, and took the child under the guise of playing with him.
She reportedly strapped Kudus to her back afterwards and sat on a chair behind his mother, who was busy attending to customers.
“Nobody knew when she (T-girl) disappeared from the market with the baby. The mother had looked back to check on Kudus, when she discovered that she had left the market with her child. We called her number, but she didn’t pick our calls. That was when it occurred to us that she had stolen the baby.
“I don’t really blame Iya Kudus. She thought the child was in a safe hand because almost everybody here knows T-girl. She would come to buy things here and play with us. She is from Ibadan (Oyo State) and had lived here for more than four years before she travelled some months ago. She came back last week,” a woman, Kemi Agboola, who sells bread and drinks in the market, said.
A resident, Kayode Paul, told PUNCH Metro that the incident was reported at the Badagry Police Station.
He said the police arrested T-girl in Ibadan after some passengers with whom she boarded a bus en route to the Oyo State capital raised the alarm.
He said, “It was said the bus had a minor accident on the way to Ibadan and the driver had to wait for some moments. As they were waiting, Kudus started crying and the passengers urged her to breastfeed him. She refused.
“As the baby’s cries increased, they compelled her to breastfeed him and she reluctantly agreed. But the baby did not suck her breasts, which made the passengers to be suspicious. After threatening to beat her up, she said she was taking the baby to her mother in Ibadan.”
Our correspondent learnt that the passengers took her to the Yemetu Police Station in Ibadan, and she eventually confessed to have stolen the baby in Badagry.
“The police in Ibadan contacted the Badagry division and the mother and her husband travelled there to recover their child. He is two months old,” Paul added.
Alimat, who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone on Saturday, said she had been reunited with her baby. She stated that she had initially declined to give Kudus to T-girl.
She said, “People were playing with my baby that day when she said I should also allow her to take him, but I refused. She asked if she had offended me and pleaded that I should let her carry him. I suddenly discovered that I didn’t see her again and people joined me to search for her to no avail.
“My child was two months old that day. The woman used to come here to buy drinks and play with us. I am now with my baby. We will return to Lagos on Monday (today).”
The police in Ibadan said the suspect gave her real name as Yetunde Awosanya, and identified herself as Alimat’s friend.
“She said she travelled with the baby with the consent of his mother. But after interrogation, it turned out that she was lying. The case will be transferred to Lagos,” the police source said.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, SP Dolapo Badmos, who confirmed the recovery of the child, said the suspect would be transferred to the command for further investigations.
After more than five years of security restriction, the Federal Government has lifted the ban on mining exploration activities in Zamfara State, citing significant improvements in the security situation across the state.
Making the announcement during a press briefing at the weekend, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake stated that the nation has a lot to gain from reawakened economic activities in a highly mineralised state like Zamfara that is imbued with vast gold, Lithium, and copper belts. He noted that the previous ban, which was good intentioned, inadvertently created a vacuum exploited by illegal miners to fleece the nation of its resources. He emphasized that the state’s potential for contributing to national revenue is enormous.
It will be recalled that in 2019, the federal government imposed a total ban on mining activities in Zamfara State due to the escalating security concerns, particularly the links between banditry and illegal mining.
Since the beginning of the Tinubu administration, however, intelligence-driven, coordinated security operations have resulted in the neutralization of key bandit commanders, significantly reducing incidents of insecurity. A recent success was the capture of one of the most wanted bandit commanders, Halilu Sububu, in a covert operation in Zamfara.
“The existential threat to lives and properties that led to the 2019 ban has abated. The security operatives’ giant strides have led to a notable reduction in the level of insecurity, and with the ban on exploration lifted, Zamfara’s mining sector can gradually begin contributing to the nation’s revenue pool,” Alake asserted.
The minister added that the lifting of the ban would also facilitate better regulation of mining activities in the state. This will enable more effective intelligence gathering to combat illegal mining and ensure the country benefits from the state’s rich mineral resources.
Commending members of the fourth estate of the realm for championing the propagation of reforms and initiatives of the ministry in 2024, Alake noted that the press have been key allies in efforts to sanitise the mining sector, and promote market reforms which have made the industry attractive to indigenous and foreign investors.
On the recent controversy surrounding the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with France, Alake reaffirmed the Federal Government’s position that the agreement does not imply Nigeria is relinquishing control over its mineral resources or entering into any military pact with France. He emphasized that Nigeria’s military remains fully capable of safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity.
“The high point of the MOU is on training and capacity building for our mining professionals. We need all the assistance we can get in terms of capacity, technical, and financial support from abroad, and that wasn’t even the first we are signing. We’ve signed similar ones with Germany and Australia. Deliberate peddling of misinformation, despite facts to the contrary, is uncalled for, “the minister emphasised.
Dr. Alake also urged the media to continue to play its crucial role in educating the public about government policies in order to prevent ignorance, mischief, and the spread of misinformation.
Looking ahead to 2025, the minister hinted at upcoming policy initiatives aimed at revitalizing the mining sector. He revealed that the ministry plans to further consolidate reforms, enhance the enabling environment for investments, and continue efforts to reposition the sector for long-term, sustainable growth.
Segun Tomori, FSCA
Special Assistant on Media
to the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development
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