A
self-proclaimed prophet identified as Emmanuel Adeyemi, has been arrested by
Lagos police command after 28 person were allegedly found chained in his
apartment in Oke-ira, Ogba area of Lagos state
It
was learnt that there was confusion on Olamidun Close, Oke-Ira, where the
suspect lived, on Friday when operatives from Area G Command, Ogba, stormed the
apartment and found the victims chained in several rooms.
According
to report, the victims, who comprised 15 adults and 13 teenagers, were
discovered after a neighbour gave the police a tip-off that a 17-year-old boy,
Toba Adeyemi, who happened to be the suspect’s son, was chained in a room.
It
was learnt that the police stormed the house at about 12pm and found Toba, they
also discovered 27 others in a similar condition.
A
police source in Area G, Ogba, told PUNCH Metro that the suspect claimed that
his son, Toba, and the 27 others were deranged and he chained them to cure
their illness.
He
said, “The report we initially received was that a boy, Toba (Adeyemi), was
being chained down by his father, a self-proclaimed prophet, in the estate. But
when we got there, it was more than just the boy. There were 27 others chained
in various rooms in the apartment.
A
victim
“The
suspect claims to be a spiritualist and a prophet. He said his work is to pray
for sick people to get well. He said the victims were sick and he had been
praying for their healing. The suspect has some magical inscriptions on the
wall of his house. The victims comprised six adult males, nine adult females,
seven female children, and six male children.
“The
families of the victims have not shown up to identify them.”
PUNCH correspondent gathered that the police had handed over the victims to officials
of the Lagos State Ministry of Youths, Sport and Social Development.
While
some of the victims were taken to a shelter, others were said to have been
rushed to hospitals, which the police did not disclose.
A
resident on the close, who identified herself only as Basirat, told our
correspondent that the prophet was known to run a home for mentally challenged
people.
She
said, “The police got a hint that the man chained his son, who has mental
illness. But the place is a home the man built for mentally challenged people.
Policemen were here on Friday and they arrested him and his wife. Toba is
Adeyemi’s son, but a neighbour, who saw how the father chained him was not
comfortable with it and reported to the police.”
The
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the
incident.
She
added that the police had commenced investigation into whether the victims were
mentally sick or not.
She
said, “A total of 28 persons were rescued from the suspect’s apartment. The man
has been arrested and he is undergoing interrogation. The command will get to
the root of the matter. The police are also investigating to find out whether
the victims are mentally sick or not.”
The
police also on Friday arrested a 27-year-old suspected robber, Sunday Onjefu,
during an operation at Itedo bus stop, Lekki Phase 1 area.
PUNCH correspondent learnt that Onjefu, who hails from Benue State, was arrested by
the Maroko Police Division while allegedly dispossessing some ladies of their
handbags and other valuables.
The
police spokesperson, Badmos, said the suspect had been transferred to the
Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja, for further investigation.
She
said, “The police found two toy guns and a knife on him. The suspect said he
had robbed people staying in the area with the toy guns.”
PUNCH
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