By Chika Ukele

Lagos—The mother of a four-year-old boy suspected to have been kidnapped in Olodi Apapa area of Lagos State, has been hospitalised, while no one had contacted them for ransom for his release.

The toddler, Tobichukwu Nliam, was reportedly last seen crying along Iheanacho Street, two weeks ago after his brother turned him back from following him on an errand.

Apprehension set in after his brother came back from the errand, without any sign of Tockuchwu around. A search conducted round the vicinity proved abortive.

At press time yesterday, Vanguard gathered that the missing child’s mother, who was attending to a customer in her shop when the incident occurred, had been going in and out of the hospital.

Effort to speak with her failed. But her husband, Cyprian Nliam, an event planner, said he went out on the day, leaving his five children in the care of their mother at home, to watch a football match at a viewing centre.

He said: “My wife called to inform me that they had been looking for him. I was told he followed his elder brother, who was sent on an errand, but he asked Tobechukwu to go back home.

“Someone saw him crying, but no one can tell how he disappeared. We have conducted search all over the possible places he could be and no one has called to demand for ransom for his release.”

Effort to get the reaction of Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmus, failed. But police sources hinted that investigation was still ongoing, sighting the recent arrest of suspected kidnappers and the subsequent rescue of victims.