Like a scene out of a horror movie, a
10-year-old girl, Damilola Fasanya, who went missing on Saturday,
January 9, 2016 in Ipaja area of Lagos, came home two days later to
recount horrific tales of her short time in the hands of her kidnappers.
10-year-old girl, Damilola Fasanya, who went missing on Saturday,
January 9, 2016 in Ipaja area of Lagos, came home two days later to
recount horrific tales of her short time in the hands of her kidnappers.
In fact, after her captors released her,
she was so traumatised by what she saw that she could not gain her
memory back for two days.
she was so traumatised by what she saw that she could not gain her
memory back for two days.
If Damilola’s parents did not vouch for
her truthfulness, many would have dismissed her story as mere product of
an imaginative mind.
her truthfulness, many would have dismissed her story as mere product of
an imaginative mind.
Damilola said that on Saturday, she was
on her way back from the errand she ran for her father around their
street at Ipaja when a vehicle double-crossed her.
on her way back from the errand she ran for her father around their
street at Ipaja when a vehicle double-crossed her.
She said she was about rebuking the
strange men in the vehicle for blocking her path, when two of them
jumped out and forced her into their car.
strange men in the vehicle for blocking her path, when two of them
jumped out and forced her into their car.
“There were three of them in the
vehicle. I became dizzy and did not know where I was again when one of
them hit me with a strange object inside their vehicle,” Damilola said.
vehicle. I became dizzy and did not know where I was again when one of
them hit me with a strange object inside their vehicle,” Damilola said.
The girl said she faintly remembered
that while they were on their way, a police patrol team stopped the men
but the kidnappers sped off.
that while they were on their way, a police patrol team stopped the men
but the kidnappers sped off.
“The police started chasing the vehicle
but the men escaped. The police van could not catch up with them. When
we got to their boss, I noticed that it was a street.
but the men escaped. The police van could not catch up with them. When
we got to their boss, I noticed that it was a street.
“There were many houses there but I
still did not know where I was. There were other children and older
people in the house too. Their boss then told them to bring me before
him.”
still did not know where I was. There were other children and older
people in the house too. Their boss then told them to bring me before
him.”
Damilola said she noticed that none of the men sounded like Yoruba. According to her, they were conversing in pidgin English.
According to the girl, a very strange thing happened when she was brought before the man.
“Immediately I got to his presence, he
became angry. I noticed that blood started coming out of his body. He
told his men, ‘See blood all over my body now. You brought an
abomination to me.’
became angry. I noticed that blood started coming out of his body. He
told his men, ‘See blood all over my body now. You brought an
abomination to me.’
“He then dipped his hand inside his
clothe and brought out a gun. He shot one of his men – the man who had
touched me with the object while we were in the car.
clothe and brought out a gun. He shot one of his men – the man who had
touched me with the object while we were in the car.
“The one that was shot then fell down
bleeding. There was blood everywhere. I did not know whether he died or
not. The boss was angry. He said next time, they should not bring the
wrong candidate to him. He then told the rest to pack him up and throw
him away.”
bleeding. There was blood everywhere. I did not know whether he died or
not. The boss was angry. He said next time, they should not bring the
wrong candidate to him. He then told the rest to pack him up and throw
him away.”
Damilola said the man then told his men to go and dump her somewhere too.
Later, she said they dropped her around
Super Bus Stop along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, where some
sympathisers who saw her roaming the area took her to the Isokoko Police
Division.
Super Bus Stop along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, where some
sympathisers who saw her roaming the area took her to the Isokoko Police
Division.
Saturday PUNCH learnt that she was too traumatised to remember anything when the police asked her where she was.
Her father, Mr. Femi Fasanya, said her daughter could not even tell the police who her parents are.
“The police kept her with them till she
regained her memory back. Two days later, she told them that if they
took her to Iyana Ipaja, she would know her way back home. When they
took her there, her memory came back completely. The police then brought
her to us.
regained her memory back. Two days later, she told them that if they
took her to Iyana Ipaja, she would know her way back home. When they
took her there, her memory came back completely. The police then brought
her to us.
“I cannot stop thanking God. Her mother and I have not eaten since that Saturday she went missing.
“Damilola told us that when the
kidnappers asked for my phone number, she told them she did not know it
even though she does. If not because of her wisdom, they probably would
have kept her with them and asked us for ransom money.
kidnappers asked for my phone number, she told them she did not know it
even though she does. If not because of her wisdom, they probably would
have kept her with them and asked us for ransom money.
“We thank God that they did not strangle
or shoot her before they dropped her somewhere. You cannot imagine what
we have been through these past days. We are Christ Apostolic Church
members. Our church in Lagos and Ondo mobilised for marathon prayer on
our behalf while residents of our street also mobilised to help out.”
or shoot her before they dropped her somewhere. You cannot imagine what
we have been through these past days. We are Christ Apostolic Church
members. Our church in Lagos and Ondo mobilised for marathon prayer on
our behalf while residents of our street also mobilised to help out.”
The case of Damilola, who just finished
her primary education and is about starting secondary school is another
evidence that kidnap-for-ransom or kidnap for ritual purpose as the case
may be, has continued to fester in a city where the police struggle
with other numerous forms of crime.
her primary education and is about starting secondary school is another
evidence that kidnap-for-ransom or kidnap for ritual purpose as the case
may be, has continued to fester in a city where the police struggle
with other numerous forms of crime.
The spokesperson for the Lagos State
Police Command, Mrs. Dolapo Badmus, who confirmed the story, said the
police are working on the girl’s testimony to investigate the activities
of the kidnappers.
Police Command, Mrs. Dolapo Badmus, who confirmed the story, said the
police are working on the girl’s testimony to investigate the activities
of the kidnappers.