Police Arrest Painter Over Abduction of Seven-Year-Old in Lagos

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 32-year-old man, identified as Chigozie Michael Clement, for allegedly abducting a seven-year-old boy and demanding a ransom of ₦7 million from the child’s family.

According to police reports, the incident was first reported on Monday, August 25, 2025, when the victim’s father lodged a complaint at the Alapere Police Division, stating that his son had been taken from their home without consent.

Shortly after the disappearance, the suspect who police confirmed was previously employed as the family’s painter contacted the child’s mother, insisting on a ransom payment in exchange for the boy’s release.

The case was swiftly transferred to the Special Squad I of the Lagos Command, which launched a discreet investigation to track down the perpetrator. Acting on intelligence, detectives traced the suspect to Ijegun, Lagos, where he had kept the boy locked inside a room.

On Wednesday, August 27, 2025, operatives arrested Clement and successfully rescued the child, who was found unharmed. The police confirmed that the victim has since been reunited with his family.

During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime, stating that he resorted to the abduction in a desperate attempt to raise money for his family’s needs. Authorities are continuing investigations to determine whether he acted alone or had accomplices.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, commended the swift efforts of the officers involved, assuring residents that the command remains fully committed to combating kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state.

“The safety of Lagosians remains our top priority. We will continue to deploy every available resource to ensure criminals have no hiding place in this state,” Jimoh said.

The police noted that Clement will be charged to court once investigations are concluded.