Bamigbetan: Police Detain Infant, Mother in Cell for Four Months

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command, has detained a nursing mother, her four-months old baby and sister-inlaw for four months in connection with the alleged kidnap of the Ejigbo Local Council Development Area Chairman, Kehinde Bamigbetan.

Although she didn't carry out the kidnap operation with the gang, it was gathered that the nursing mother, Chigozie, was arrested at her residence in Ajah after the police had killed her husband in a gun battle.

Her husband, a half caste popularly known as China was purportedly the gang leader of the kidnappers, who were said to have kidnapped Bamigbetan and a Federal High Court Judge.

After the police had raided the gang's house and killed all seven of them in a gun duel, it was gathered that the police had stormed China's residence and arrested  both mother and child alongside China’s younger sister.

Although she had repeatedly maintained her innocence, police sources said she was being detained because she was the armourer for the group gang.

But the suspect said she only came down to Lagos from their Ghana abode where she was managing their hotel, because her husband told her that they were to travel out.

She said unknown to her, she had come back the same day her husband was shot dead and she was waiting for him at their Ajah residence when the police swooped and arrested her.

Although the police had also arrested her father and her four year-old daughter, they were later released but refused to release Chigozie, the baby and the sister-inlaw.

She lamented that the condition of the cell was not conducive for the suckling child, adding that she had pleaded to no avail to be charged to court.

Confirming the detention, the state Deputy Police Spokesman, Ozoani Damasus, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the suspect was still in detention because of ongoing investigations.

He said the suspect had earlier in her confessional statement declared that she had three pistols in her possession in their Ghana home.

He said, “The woman’s husband is the popular China, who masterminded the kidnap of the Ejigbo Local Council Development Area boss, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan and a Federal High Court Judge. 

"He was also responsible for many robberies which involved destruction of ATM. At the moment, the police have written to INTERPOL, so that they can go to Ghana and access her home and recover the guns. We can only charge her to court after that.”