46 — WEDNESDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 7, 2015
Please help memy find son my Help find baby– Mother of abducted Mother of abducted 2-yr-oldboy cries 2-yr-old criesout By Ebere Aham & Ufuoma Tiveruahor
M
S Faustina Ogar sat down on a settee in her father’s sitting room on Bale Street, Ajegunle, Lagos, casting a blank stare as reporters entered. Repeated greetings did not make her shift her gaze from that particular position, until her sexagenarian father tapped her on the shoulder. Jolted back to reality, she turned to her visitors with an expression of shock and uncertainty on her face. She smiled, apparently to put up an act that all was well. But the real situation of things was revealed after the visitors identified themselves as journalists. At that point, she stood up and offered them seats. But as she sat down she broke down in tears and asked: “Did you come to hear my side of the story? Or are you here with news of my missing baby?” The mother of two is at the moment thrown into anguish, following the disappearance of her two-year-and-four-month old son, David. It has been 16 days after David was reportedly abducted by one Ayomide, an apprentice who recently resumed work at Ms Ogar ’s fashion designing shop on Salibu Street, Ajegunle. Since then, no word has been heard from Ayomide or any one concerning payment of ransom for the toddler’s release.
Toddler's release Explaining how the incident which she said had shattered her life started, Ogar narrated: “That fateful Monday, one of our family friends, Sunday Egebor brought Ayomide, a lady of about 25 years, saying she wanted to enrol as an apprentice in my fashiondesigning shop. I never suspected any thing since I have known Sunday for about three years. But that was the first time of meeting Ayomide. Sunday simply introduced her as his friend, explaining that they had worked together before. "After the introduction, I told her the necessary things needed before she could be taken on. Among them was payment of a stipend, a crate of soft drinks, a box of Cabin biscuits and some sewing materials.
She promised to bring the things on Friday, September 18, 2015 alongside the form I had given her to fill. She only paid N5,000. I obliged her because of the person that brought her.” At this point, Ogar paused, looked at these reporters with her tear-filled eyes before continuing. “I never suspected she was up to something evil. After resuming that Monday, she worked for three days, comporting herself in a good manner. But on the fourth day, September 17, 2015 she kidnapped my baby. “That day, I was in my house on Omowale Street, Ajegunle attending to household chores. Normally Thursdays are designated days for cleaning in all markets and shops, so shops do not open until 10am.
Generator workshop At about 9am, she called me on phone, that she had been around. I apologised to her for not informing her that we do not open early on Thursdays. At about 9:30am, I bathed my son, David who is about two years and four months old, and asked my 12year-old son to take him to Ayomide in the shop on his way to the generator workshop where he is an apprentice. Usually, my apprentices sometimes come to the house to collect the key and carry my baby to the shop. Then I would use the opportunity to wash some dirty clothes, with the hope of joining
I never believed my son could be kidnapped by anyone, let alone my apprentice. The unfortunate aspect is that I don’t know anything about her
them in the shop later.” However, after finishing the laundry, Ogar reportedly left for her shop, only to be greeted with the absence of Ayomide and her baby. Apparently thinking she had gone to buy biscuits for the baby, Ogar reportedly waited endlessly for Ayomide’s return. Continuing, she said, “My 12year-old son told me he had visited the shop again after dropping his younger brother but had met only Ayomide washing some plates, without any sign of his brother. He had left without suspecting any foul play. But he said when he returned again to pick something from the shop, Ayomide and the baby were nowhere to be found. At that point, he rushed home to inform me. “By then I was about leaving for the shop as well, but the information made me hasten my steps. On reaching the shop, Ayomide and my son were nowhere to be seen. When I called Ayomide’s phone, she picked the call and pleaded with me not to be angry, saying she would be around soon. Having waited for some time, I called again, only to discover that her phone was switched off. Since then, I have not heard anything from Ayomide.” Crime Alert gathered that the man who stood surety for Ayomide, S u n d a y Egebor has b e e n arrested. But he could not state where Ayomide lives, nor could he provide information about any of her relatives. Sunday is at the moment being interrogated by detectives of the Special AntiRobbery Squad, SARS. Ogar said: “I believe that my friend, Sunday is an accomplice. They planned to take my baby away from me. He keeps changing his story since he has been in the police station. Nobody has called us to pay any ransom. I do not know why anybody will want to punish me through the kidnap of my baby. “People around said they saw
•David
Ayomide leaving t h e neighbourhood that fateful day, with my baby. But they did not question her since they knew her as my apprentice. “I never believed my son could be kidnapped by anyone, let alone my apprentice. The unfortunate aspect is that I don’t know anything about her. All I know is that she is light in complexion, tall, plump and about 25 years old. The last time I saw her, she was wearing cornrows (all back) made with attachments. Please anyone who has seen her should kindly alert the police”, she pleaded. Even in her anguished state, she advised other shop owners not to make the mistake of leaving
their children in the care of t h e i r apprentices, saying the trauma such mistake had plunged her into was better imagined than experienced. “Please shop owners, be careful with whoever you want to keep in your shop. Screen them properly. If they have vague descriptions, do not accept them”, she admonished tearfully. She stopped for a while and suddenly yelled: “Oh my baby! Only God knows what he is going through at the moment. I want to see my baby. I miss him so much. Ayomide, I pray you read this paper. Please be kind enough to release my baby. If I had offended you in any way unknowingly, please forgive me and release my baby. What offence has he committed to warrant this treatment? Crime Alert gathered that before his abduction, David Ogar was a kindergarten pupil of Realistic Gold Nursery and Primary School, Ajegunle.