Woman steals two 1-yr-old children to support lie of twin delivery

Mrs Zainab Salisu and husband, Mr Saheed Akinwale carrying Kehinde

A woman has been arrested for stealing two children aged one after she had lied to had husband that she delivered twin babies.

The suspect identified as Zainab Salisu, allegedly disguised as a customer allowing her to abduct a one-year-old girl, Fehintola Lawal who she renamed Taiwo, in the Abule Egba area of Lagos State and another one-year-old boy she named, Kehinde.

Mrs Salisu, 42, who hails from Daura, Katsina State, revealed to PUNCH Metro on Thursday, June 2, 2016 that she had lied to her husband that she had been pregnant and was delivered of twins after she informed him that she was travelling outside the country in 2015.

The reports reveal that the suspect, disguised as a customer, met the mother the little girl, Damilola Lawal, at a shop in the Abule Egba area, requesting for some items which were not available at the time.

Two days later, Mrs Salisu, accompanied by Mrs Lawal headed to the Agege area to get the items which had been unavailable during her first visit.

Mrs Salisu reportedly made away with Fehintola strapped to her back, on a motorcycle.

Fehintola and the second victim, one-year-old boy were reportedly rescued from the home of the suspect on Koleade Street, Council bus stop, Idimu.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja, the suspect revealed that her plan had been to adopt the abducted kids in a bid to cover up the lie she had told her husband.

Mrs Salisu said:

“I am from Katsina State, but I have been staying in the South West since I finished my secondary school education in Kano State. I got married in 1992, but I lost my husband in 1993. I met my new husband last year.

“I stay in the Ifo area of Ogun State. My new husband lives in the Matogun area. When I met Fehintola’s parents on that Saturday, I intended to take her away and nurture her as my child. When we went to the supermarket, I did not observe any camera, but I knew there would be cameras there.

“When I fled, I took the girl to my place in Ifo. I lied to my husband in August 2015 that I was pregnant. I told him I was travelling abroad when I realised that he would notice that I was lying. He was the one who drove me to the airport.

“But I did not travel abroad. So when I stole Fehintola in May, I went to him and told him I was back. I took the girl and another boy to him as my twins.”

Salisu, who reportedly graduated from a polytechnic in Ogun State, denied abducting the boy she named Taiwo, revealing that he is a cousin of hers.

“I told my husband that I had a set of twins. I said they were a boy and a girl. He did not suspect anything until yesterday when the police came to arrest us. I call the toddlers Taiwo and Kehinde. The other boy is related to me. He is my cousin. The mother is dead, but the father lives in Sagamu. I took good care of both children.”

Salisu’s husband, Saheed Akinwale, revealed that he was not aware of his wife’s schemes.

“When she came back in May 2016, I did not ask her any question. She had called me in August 2015 that she was pregnant and was delivered of twins. I did not doubt her. When she came back last month, she brought the children. It was when I saw policemen on Wednesday that I knew she had been lying to me."

Fehintola’s mother, Mrs Lawal, told PUNCH Metro:

“I am grateful to God for rescuing my baby. I am also grateful to the police and the media. Fehintola is my only child. She celebrated her one-year birthday on May 5. This abduction happened on May 16.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, speaking on the issues added:

“We have not reunited the boy with his parents because we have not seen them. We appeal to members of the public to help us locate them. The suspect is a serial child kidnapper and she will soon be charged to court.”