The police in Edo state have arrested the Proprietress of God’s Orphanage Home, in Benin, Edo State, Kehinde Blessing Imarhiagbe, for complicity in the alleged theft of four-year-old-Elo Ogidi.
Elo was abducted from church in Lagos state on July 8th and was found in the orphanage run by Imarhiagbe last Friday,
Speaking to journalisits while parading Mrs. Imarhiagbe, the State Police Commissioner, Babatunde Kokumo, described the activity of the suspect as unwholesome, adding that the stolen girl was “found at the orphanage under questionable circumstances.”
Speaking in her defense, Imarhiagbe, said Elo was brought to her Orphanage home by a man who gave his name as Emeka, who allegedly claimed to be the father of the child, adding that he had lost the mother. Imarhiagbe said since she did not suspect any foul play, she did not bother to probe the true identity of the baby, especially when Emeka was visiting her orphanage home every week.
She, however, said she was surprised to have received a phone call while she was attending a church programme in Sapele, Delta State, that the police were looking for her in connection with a child allegedly stolen in Lagos.
She said on arriving Benin, she surrendered herself to the police and that since her arrest all efforts to reach Emeka had not been unsuccessful as Emeka has since switched off his phone.
