The heightened level of kidnapping of people and stealing under – aged children has reached an alarming scenario following the abduction of a 9 – month old baby boy from his mother’s shop.
Mr and Mrs Callistus Agbaso had no premonition of evil that would befall their family this May when their only son, Chiemerie Emmanuel born nine months ago became victim of rampaging child kidnappers that have made Owerri, the Imo state capital their fertile ground.
According to the mother of the missing boy, Mrs Agbaso, who operates a hair and beauty centre at38 Odunze Street, she left her son in the care of two customers, a friend and unknown woman who came to fix her nails at the beauty salon. Mrs Agbaso left Emmanuel in the care of her friend who was still at her shop to undertake an errand. Having noticed that Mrs Agbaso has left, the customer, a woman while carrying the little Emmanuel requested Mrs Agbaso’s friend to allow her carry the child along to buy pepper soup and cold drink in a nearby joint. On her return from the errand, Mrs Agbaso noticed that little baby was nowhere near the shop. On inquiries about the where about of Emmanuel, the unsuspecting lady who cared for the 9 – month old baby disclosed how she was tricked by the customer turned child – thieve.
All search conducted at nearby shops and business centres to get the lady kidnapper and little Emmanuel proved abortive.
Meanwhile, the matter has been reported to the Imo state Police command.
