The Ogun State Police Command has announced the successful rescue of Mercy Akinde, a 7-year-old girl who was abducted last week in Sango-Ota, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Omolola Odutola, revealed this in a statement on Sunday, stating that the covert operation, led by Commissioner of Police CP Lanre Ogunlowo, resulted in the girl’s recovery and the arrest of the suspects involved.
The statement read:
“In a swift covert operation by the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Police Command, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, the missing Ota girl was located in Ayetoro, Ogun State, by the Anti-Kidnapping Team of the command. All suspects have been arrested.”
Further details about the operation will be shared during a press briefing by the Commissioner of Police on Monday, Odutola added.
Mercy’s abduction caused significant public concern, prompting an extensive search. Last week, the police confirmed the incident but denied allegations that officers demanded ₦40,000 from the complainant to process the case.
The command admitted that the officer who initially received the complaint acted unprofessionally by failing to escalate the matter to the Divisional Police Officer. Disciplinary measures have since been initiated against the officer for mishandling the incident.
