By Linus Akomolafe
After two days of searching for an undergraduate student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Moses Oluwaferanmi, his mother, Mrs. Moses, said she concluded that he was already kidnapped before receiving a call that Lagos Police Command, Ikeja is holding him in custody.
Oluwaferanmi, a 17-year-old Mechanical Engineering student was arrested in Mushin on his way to his workshop on September 19 and transferred to Ijede, a police Station in Ikorodu where he spent 20 days before his mother was reached
He said: “I am also a mechanic since we are on holiday, I went to repair a Range Rover in Festac but I discovered my tools were not complete so I left Festac back to my shop at Mushin on a bike. I had no idea there was a riot going on there that day but suddenly I saw policemen shooting which made me hide for safety. But before I knew what was happening, the police people parked in front of me, beat me and arrested me. I told them I am a mechanic and instead of letting me go they seized my phone,” he said.
Feranmi stressed that he was not allowed to reach out to his mother and on the orders of Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, he was transferred to Ijede where he spent 20 days before he was transferred back to Ikeja for bail.
His mother, on October 8, Mrs. Moses said an officer referred to as SP Taiwo at Ikeja Police Command requested for N80, 000 to secure Feranmi’s release.
Mrs. Moses paid the said amount adding that it was due to the health condition of her son who was admitted by the police to a general hospital and does not want him to die in custody.
When contacted, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Adekunle AJisebutu, said Nigerians should be advised against giving money to officers because in the case of the law, both the giver and the receiver are liable and that It won’t be enough to pay a bribe and come back to complain.
He assured that the force would look into the matter but would not ascertain the culprit as there is no financial evidence to show officers received the said amount.
