Intending Tenant ‘Stole’ Two Children In Ilesa, Osun State

In the Igando area of Ilesa, Osun State, a distressing event occurred when an unidentified woman, posing as a prospective tenant, disappeared with two young children.

According to The PUNCH, the woman recently secured a one-room apartment in a ‘face-me-and-face-you’ building located in the Cele area. After cleaning her new home on Saturday, she vanished with two children, aged four and two.

It was reported that the woman had paid N6,000 for six months’ rent to one of the existing tenants.

Funke Komolafe, the mother of one of the missing children, shared that the woman had tricked her into believing she was taking the girls to buy something, a claim confirmed by neighbours who witnessed her leaving with the children.

Itunu Joseph, the mother of the other missing child, also provided her account of the events leading up to the tragic incident.

“We have three buildings sharing a common backyard. On Saturday morning, the woman approached us while we were washing clothes. My two-year-old daughter was playing with her friends in the building where the woman had rented a room.

“After tidying her room, the woman feigned exhaustion and pretended to be pregnant. She sat in the backyard, engaging with the children, and expressed a fondness for my daughter, saying she wished for a child like her.”

Joseph continued, “She spent around three hours with us before retreating to her room. The children followed her inside, but we didn’t notice her leaving. Neighbours at the front of the house observed her walking away with the children and inquired about her destination. She falsely stated she was going to buy something for them. She proceeded to the junction and boarded a motorcycle.

“When my daughter went missing, I learned that the new tenant had taken her and my neighbour’s child. We managed to trace the motorcycle rider, who revealed that the woman had transferred to another motorcycle at Adeti area of Ilesa. Despite our search efforts, we have yet to locate them.”

The distraught mother described the woman as being between 17 and 20 years old, fair-skinned, with a short haircut and fixed nails. “She didn’t disclose her name,” she added.

Joseph further explained the rental payment process, noting, “A tenant collected the money on behalf of the landlord. Although the landlord asked if the tenant knew the woman, the tenant assured him she did. Consequently, the landlord approved the rent without issuing a receipt.”

The incident has been reported to both the police and the Osun State Amotekun Corps.

The state corps Commander, Adekunle Omoyele, confirmed their involvement, stating, “We are aware of the situation and are diligently working to locate the woman. By God’s grace, we will find her and the children.”