Woman escapes being lynched after abducting 8-month-old baby in Ebute-Metta

A woman is currently hospitalised after she was almost lynched for abducting an 8-month-old baby.

The woman, identified simply as Toyin, found her way to a house in Ebute-Metta under the guise that she was looking for her husband, then began monitoring the adult in the house until she got a chance to take the baby.

The baby is a twin. She and her twin sister were taken to a relative’s house in Ebute-Metta, Lagos, by their mother named Bilikisu Abubakar.

The relative was with the children when Toyin entered the house and said she was looking for her husband, one Akeem.

Bilikisu told Punch: “The first time Toyin came to my sister’s house, she said she was looking for her husband, one Akeem, but my sister told her that her husband wasn’t in the house.

“She came again and asked the same question and was told the same thing. When my sister left, she found her way into the house and tried to take one of the twins but fortunately, Khadija (an 11-year-old girl) was there. She fought against the woman and raised the alarm.

“In trying to save herself, Toyin locked herself in a room with the twin she wanted and Khadija.”

An eyewitness said when he rushed to the house, he observed that Toyin and the two children had locked themselves in a room, adding that he alongside other residents had to force the door open.

The suspect was taken under the bridge in the Ijora area, where another suspect, who had attempted to steal a child three weeks ago, was burnt alive.

The source said: “They poured petrol on her to burn her but fortunately someone called the police who came with guns and everyone ran away. The suspect is currently at the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute-Metta.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident.

He said: “She is still at the hospital because she was badly burnt. No one has come for her since she has been in the hospital.”