Father Of Missing 5-Year-Old Child Cries For Help

• Police Parade Suspect

Kazeem Badmus

A middle-aged man, Asimiyu Arowolo, has expressed his agony over the disappearance of his five-year-old son, Mubarak, since May 03, 2023, calling on security operatives to assist in finding him. 

Arowolo, a resident of No 22, Odo Eran Area, Sabo, Osogbo, Osun State, in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER claimed that his son was kidnapped by a suspect, Hussein Mumini, who has been arrested by the police. 

According to Arowolo, Mumini met Mubarak with his elder brother at the front of their home and sent the later to buy recharge card for him to be able to kidnap the victim. 

The grieving father said Mumini confessed to have kidnapped his son and took him to Ejigbo.

He said: “My child, Mubarak, was kidnapped and the kidnapper has been arrested by the police. He kidnapped him on the 3rd of May, 2023, at No. 22, Odo Eran Area, Sabo, Osogbo. Since then, we have been looking for him.  

READ ALSO: Police Arrest Owner Of Dog That Killed 5-Month Baby

“Mubarak was outside with his elder brother (Ramadan) playing when the kidnapper called Ramadan to get a recharge card for him. I don’t know if he used charm to talk to him because my children don’t run errands for anybody if we are not at home. 

“Before the elder brother came back from where he went to buy the card, the suspect has kidnapped Mubarak. Since then, we have been looking for the child.”

When asked how he knew the suspect with the police was the one who kidnapped his son, Arowolo said the missing child’s elder brother identified the suspect when they went to the police station.

He stated: “He (the suspect) tried to kidnap another child around Powerline area, Osogbo. He also sent the elder sister of that child card but on her way to buy the card, she looked back and saw the suspect taking away her brother. She alerted the residents and the kidnapper was apprehended. 

“My wife’s elder brother read the news online and alerted us. When we got to the station, the officer in charge asked if Mubarak’s elder brother could recognise the person who sent him a recharge card and he said yes. 

“They brought out three persons but my son said none of them sent him the card. They later brought out a guy with a bucket in his hand and immediately my son sighted him, I shouted that he was the one. 

“We were asked to bring Mubarak’s photograph and the suspect was shown the picture. He confessed to have kidnapped him and told the officers the child was in Ejigbo with a herbalist.”

On efforts made to locate the kidnapped child, Arowolo said: “On the 19th of August, we went to Ejigbo with the police and the suspect but when we got there, he was just taking us to different places without any positive result.”

Arowolo appealed to the security agencies and anyone with useful information regarding the kidnapped son to assist in finding him.

“I want to appeal to whoever knows where my child is to assist us. The police are trying and I want to further urge them not to relent. Nobody prays for his child to be missing “ he concluded. 

Meanwhile, Mumini, an indigene of Iresi in Boluwaduro local government of the State was recently paraded by the police for attempting to kidnap a girl around Powerline area, Osogbo.

Police Public Relations Officer, Osun Command, Mrs Yemisi Opalola, said: “On 5th August, 2023 at about 1200noon, the 25-year-old Hussein Mumini was apprehended at power-line area, Osogbo.

“The suspect confessed that he wanted to kidnap his unsuspecting victim, eight years old around the area before he was arrested. 

“He further confessed to have been involved in serial cases of kidnapping within Osogbo metropolis.”

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, Mumini said his friend introduced him to the kidnapping business, adding that he had not kidnapped anyone before his arrest. 

He said: “I went to pack blocks around Powerline area. After finishing the work, I was passing through the area when a girl shouted that I wanted to kidnap her brother which I didn’t do. 

“I didn’t know anything about the boy that was kidnapped in Sabo. I didn’t kidnap anybody. My friend Biodun was the one who told me about Ejigbo and he was the kidnapper. I didn’t know where he is now. 

“Biodun was the one who told me he was taking a child to Ejigbo. He told me he sold a child for N50,000. He gave me N250,000 without telling me he is a kidnapper. He told me after giving me the money.”