In Lagos State, a grandmother named Fatimo Ganiyu has been taken into police custody for allegedly locking up three infants in the Ikotun area.
According to reports from PUNCH Metro, the arrest of the suspect occurred on Wednesday around 4:00 p.m.
A video clip shared by a resident depicted the male and female infants struggling in a malnourished state as they attempted to escape from the house.
Speaking to PUNCH Metro on Thursday, a resident identified as Pelumi disclosed that the children had been confined without food or water for days.
Pelumi expressed, “The children were left unattended for an extended period, enduring days without sustenance. Some suggest this neglect has endured for months, while others claim it’s been weeks.”
An undisclosed police source within the division revealed that they received a tip-off concerning three children, comprising two boys and a girl aged between two and four, who were imprisoned by their grandmother in Agodo Egbe, Ikotun.
Despite their emaciated appearance, the infants were rescued and taken to the police station.
“Around 1600 hrs on April 17, 2024, a report came in at the Ikotun Division regarding the imprisonment of three children—two boys and a girl, aged two to four—by their grandmother, Fatimo Ganiyu, at Agodo Egbe, Ikotun. The DPO promptly led a team of anti-crime detectives to the scene, the children were rescued, and brought to the station, albeit in a malnourished and unwell state.”
When reached for comment, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, verified the situation.
He assured that the infants would be given appropriate care and attention, with the investigation still ongoing.
“The suspect has been apprehended, and the infants will be relocated for proper medical treatment and care. The inquiry is underway.”