By Andrew Unutame
Residents of the Oveto area in Ughelli North Local Government Area were thrown into panic on Tuesday after a man identified as Lucky was apprehended for allegedly attempting to abduct a two-month-old baby.
The incident occurred when the suspect reportedly entered the home of Mrs. Oke Oghenekparobo and took her infant son, Eric Oghenevwede Oghenekparobo, while he was asleep in the bedroom.
According to eyewitnesses, the mother raised the alarm after spotting the unfamiliar man exiting her house with the child. Her cries for help alerted neighbors, who swiftly mobilized and chased the suspect. In the course of his escape, the suspect dropped the baby and scaled a fence but was eventually apprehended by members of the community.
Speaking emotionally to reporters, 28-year-old Mrs. Oghenekparobo said, “I am short of words. I don’t even know how I summoned the courage, but I’m thankful my child is safe.”
An eyewitness recounted how the suspect initially tried to feign innocence. “He almost convinced me he had nothing to do with it—until a youth from the neighborhood recognized him,” the source said.
Despite his attempts to deny any wrongdoing, claiming he was only in the area to visit a friend, the suspect was identified and surrounded by angry residents. He was said to have even boasted that he would not be detained if handed over to the police.
It took the timely intervention of the police to rescue the suspect from a lynch mob intent on delivering jungle justice.
