Missing Scavenger Found, Police Investigate Mysterious Disappearance

The scavenger, Zaradin Sani, who was allegedly kidnapped at 31, Kayode Adebanji Street, off Unity Road, Ashamu Estate in Oke-Afa, last weekend, has been found, after operatives of the Lagos State Police Command tracked him from Ibadan to Kano.

This is just as the command has begun detailed investigation into the mysterious disappearance with a view to unravelling what really transpired. THISDAY had earlier reported that the scavenger had in the company of colleague, gone into the said building to cart away a used fridge only to disappear, but had somehow managed to contact his colleague, who hitherto had been worried.

The victim was said to have told his colleague that he was being held inside a particular compound with a cross sign in front. When news of his alleged disappearance filtered in, some scavengers numbering over 50, had stormed the said house to protest.

Going berserk, the protesters had damaged several properties at V-Sleem gym, the ceiling of the main building, where the victim was allegedly abducted, as well as the transformer stationed in front of the house.

Other scavengers, armed with cutlasses and knives, stormed the compound, threatening to pull it down and they were soon joined by other youths led by  the Seriki Hausa in Ejigbo.

However, a company of soldiers and policemen, who later searched the entire premises did not find the victim, who allegedly told them he was being held in ceiling and could see them.

They were said to have climbed the ceiling in search of the victim but could not find him. At a point, his phone line allegedly suddenly became unavailable.

  Despite interventions by security operatives, the youths started destroying television sets, glass doors, windows and other valuables in the compound.

  It was gathered that most of them brought out knives and cutlasses strapped on their bodies and forcefully opened the gate to the gym breaking everything on sight, forcing security agents to use force on them.
However, the detectives attached to the command were said to have been tracking his movement through his phone and was once pinpointed at Ibadan.

Attempts to rescue him was aborted when the tracker indicated that he was again on the move, this time towards the Northern region. The police were finally able to track him to Kano, from where he was brought to Lagos yesterday.

The victim, who recounted his experience said: “I went to scavenge when a woman called me inside the compound to buy a used fridge. When I got in, I found myself in Ibadan the next day. When I managed to escape, I reported myself to the Hausa community there.

“They now put me in a bus going to Kano. I was there when the police tracked me through my phone and directed them to bring me back to Lagos.

“I didn’t come back straight to Lagos after I went to the Hausa community because I was scared that those same people will get me again.”

Speaking about the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, Fatai Owoseni, said the command is presently trying to unravel the mystery behind his disappearance.

He said, “The scavenger has been found and we are still investigating the matter. Upon interrogation, the victim claimed that he was lured into the house by a woman.
“He claimed he saw himself at Ibadan, where he also claimed that he saw 10 other people in captivity. We are investigating.

“But from preliminary investigation, we discovered that the owner of the house was not even at home when the said abduction happened. The man works for a top multinational company and has had years of practice.
“Already, we have put surveillance in that area. At the same time, it’s imperative that people should not take laws in their hands. Imagine how the mob  vandalised the house without confirmation about the authenticity of the news.”