Orekoya Children Were Actually Found Naked In A Bag

The Lawanson Road, Itire
abode of the Orekoyas, whose three children were kidnapped by a housemaid last
Wednesday, 24 hours after she was employed, became a Mecca of sorts yesterday,
following news of their discovery.

The children, Demola, 6;
Adedamola, 4, and Aderomola, 11 months, were reportedly found in an uncompleted
building in Shasha area of Akowonjo, Lagos, Tuesday night, after an undisclosed
ransom was paid into an account.

According to their maternal
grandfather, Senior Apostle Abraham Adekunle, the children were found naked
inside a bag. No arrest has, however, been made.

The abductors, as gathered,
had sent an account number of an undisclosed bank to the Orekoyas.

The children, who had been
ravaged by mosquitoes, were immediately taken to police hospital, Ikeja.

When Vanguard visited the
Orekoya’s home yesterday, the children and their parents were yet to arrive
from the hospital. Their grandfather, Senior Apostle Adekunle, described the
eight days of his grandchildren’s disappearance as one of the worst challenges
he had faced in his 67 years of existence.

Grandfather’s story

According to him, “these
eight days have been days of unrest for every member of my family.

“It all started after
my daughter, Adebisi Orekoya, applied for a nanny through OLX (an online sales
portal). On Monday (last week) one lady, who identified herself as Mary
Akinloye, came for the job.

“My daughter took her to her
place of work to introduce to her colleagues. Next day, Tuesday, she resumed
work. But on Wednesday, she took my three grandchildren, leaving Michael, the
eldest, a boarder who was on holiday, with information that she was going to
get something.

“When Michael did not see Mary
and his siblings, he contacted his mother by 
phone. My daughter in turn called her husband, who had to cut short his
trip to Ibadan and return home.

“We went to Surulere
division and Area ‘F’ to incident the case. Efforts to reach Mary on her phone
proved abortive, as it was switched off. But she called next day to say she was
with the children and demanded for ransom of N15 million.

“Since then we have been
running from pillar to post looking for how to raise the money. Public-spirited
Nigerians, family members and friends contributed.

“Aside that, we did not
relent in prayers. There was no church around this area that I did not visit
for prayers. In fact, in one of the prayer sessions, prophesy came that we
would find the children today (yesterday).

“I have nothing else to say
than to thank God for sparing the lives of my grandchildren.”

Also, elder sister to Mr.
Lere Orekoya, Mrs Adesunbo Alabi, stated that when news of the disappearance of
her nephews reached her, it was like a dream.

“At first , it seemed like a
home theatre movie. I never believed until I came and saw my brother’s wife
crying. I really appreciate my brother’s courage during this period because he
encouraged us not to cry, that anything that happens to one in life is for a
purpose.

“My joy knows no bounds
today because the abductors demanded for money, where other victims were
killed.”

Hospitalized

When Vanguard visited the
hospital , Mr. Orekoya was seen rocking Aderomola, the youngest child, to sleep
with a lullaby: Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream.

While Aderomola was on drip,
the other two were playing.

The children described the
kidnappers’ hideout as their new home, saying Mary cooked the meal they ate.

Efforts to get their
parents’ reaction, yesterday, initially proved abortive as they said it was not
a day for explanation.

Mr. Orekoya, however, said
the family would brief the press at their home today.

After much persuasion, he
simply stated that the rescue of his children was an indication that prayers
worked.

“In one word, I will say
that prayers work. We are happy that they are alive and well,“ he said.

Vanguard