Kidnapper Told Me My Daughter Is Alive, Says Father Of ‘Stolen Baby’

Daniel Ogundele, father of the 20-month-old baby, Opeyemi Ogundele, who was allegedly stolen at a christening ceremony in Ogun State on Sunday, has said that his baby was alive.

He said on Tuesday that as a 10:00 pm on Monday, an Ifa priest, Chief Olansile Ifayemi, fingered in the mysterious disappearance of the child, had told him during a telephone conversation that the missing toddler was alive in his custody.

Ogundele, who spoke with reporters, said he had reported the outcome of the telephone conversation to the state police command headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta. It would be recalled that Opeyemi had mysteriously disappeared on Sunday during the naming ceremony at Inukosegba village, near Akorede Estate, Mile II in Abeokuta North Local Government Area.

The baby was said to have been kidnapped about 1:30 pm at the christening organised by the family of Mr. Olusola Osunleke for their newborn daughter.

Following the kidnapping and search for the missing baby, a suspected ritualists’ den was said to have been discovered in the area, adjacent to the Osunleke house.

The strange discovery was said to have infuriated the residents who reportedly storm the area and vandalise the building, wherein suspected human body parts, effigy, fetish objects and masquerade regalia, among others, were found. The stolen baby’s father said he succeeded in reaching Chief Ifayemi on telephone on Monday night, adding that the Ifa priest confessed that the ‘stolen baby’ was in his custody at Isabo area of Abeokuta and that the child was alive.

“We got his phone number and called him on Monday night. The priest said my child was still alive and with him at Isabo. He claimed that he was in Isabo area of Abeokuta. This was around 10 pm on Monday. He said nothing is wrong with my boy. He just asked us to stop people from destroying his house,” he said.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, said he was not aware of the claims of the toddler’s father.

(Daily Independent)