The Lagos State Police Command has rescued two toddlers who were found locked up in an apartment on Adelakun Street, in the Iju Ishaga area of Lagos State.
The mother of the infants, who has been struggling with substance abuse, neglected her responsibility to care for her children.
Concerned neighbors contacted the Advocate for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network, which organized a rescue operation.
Upon entering the home, the rescuers discovered the toddlers in a neglected state, having been left to fend for themselves.
The children, who were sometimes confined for entire days, ate, slept, and used the room as their bathroom.
Ebenezer Omejalile, Chief Operating Officer of the Advocate for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network, stated that area residents alerted the group to the situation.
He said, “These two minors were left to fend for themselves. They eat, defecate, sleep and wake up locked up in the room yet nothing was being done. The DPO of the Red House Police Station was duly informed about it and the infants were rescued.”
Omejalile mentioned that this was the second instance of the police rescuing the toddlers from such conditions.
He stated that the former Divisional Police Officer conducted the rescue operation, but the children were later returned to their mother after being placed under the care of government authorities.
He said, “The incident was initially reported at the same police station several months ago. The then DPO promptly responded to the distress call and rescued the babies from their mother’s custody.
“Shockingly, despite the initial intervention by law enforcement, it has come to light that the children were subsequently returned to their mother’s care.
“This decision has left many baffled, including the former DPO who ensured the babies were placed under the care of government agencies.”
The state PPRO, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the development. He said, “The children were rescued. They are now in safe hands.”
