Quick action by students, parents, and passers-by yesterday afternoon prevented an attempted abduction of Miss Daniella Arinze, an SS3 student of Queens College, Yaba, at about 4:30 p.m.
Eyewitnesses said Daniella had just stepped out of the school premises when several men allegedly tried to force her into a black Toyota Camry near the school gate. Her cries immediately drew attention, prompting students and adults in the area to raise an alarm and confront the suspects.
“I heard screams from students at the gate shouting, ‘They’ve kidnapped her!’ and I saw the girl struggling in the car,” said Mr. Rufus Folorunsho, a parent who joined the rescue effort.
“We raised the alarm, and other parents blocked the vehicle so it couldn’t move. The men got out and tried to run. People chased them, and some were caught.”
Mr. Folorunsho added that the suspects were restrained at the scene until police officers arrived and took them into custody. By the time The Nation Newspaper Reporter arrived at the scene, Daniella had been reunited with her mother and escorted away from the area.
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A family member who stayed back at the scene and requested anonymity alleged that the suspects were relatives of the teenager and claimed the motive was to seize Daniella and subject her to female genital mutilation (FGM), a practice still promoted in some families despite laws prohibiting it. “We have faced relentless pressure from our traditional authority,” the source said, calling on authorities to ensure the safety of Daniella and her immediate family.
When contacted, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, confirmed that an attempted abduction had been reported and stated that a detailed briefing would be issued as investigations continue. As of press time, the police had not released an official statement.