Kidnappers of children from churches in police net

Four men said to be members of a syndicate that specialises in abducting children from churches have been arrested in Lagos.

The Lagos police command said it was keeping the identities of the suspects under wraps as it was still investigating the matter.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, told journalists yesterday that detectives tracked the syndicate members to their hideout in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where they arrested the four suspects, while others were still being hunted.

“We unmasked them using their account details and they are helping us with investigations. Other suspects will soon be rounded up,” Edgal said.

He explained that the syndicate’s operational method was to visit major religious places of worship in Lagos state where they pretended to be members during worship.

As the real congregants got engrossed in worship activities, the police boss added, the suspects would then head towards the children’s department where they abducted stray kids who they then took to Port Harcourt.

Daily Trust learnt police investigation followed the recent abduction of two children from the national headquarters of the Christ Embassy Church, Oregun and Latter Rain Assembly, Ogba, both in Lagos.

Edgal advised churches and mosques, especially the big ones, to tighten security during worship. “These religious places of worship should meet with their Divisional Police Officer. I have ordered that two police detectives be posted to such places at all times of worship. One will be in uniform outside to watch movements and also guard vehicles, while the other detective will be in mufti inside,” he said.