The Osun State Amotekun Corps has reunited a woman and her two young children with their family, less than 24 hours after they were rescued while wandering along the Ogii/Gbongan Road in Osogbo.
The woman and her children, aged about three and one year respectively, were rescued by Amotekun operatives during a night patrol on Thursday after they were found wandering along the road at a late hour.
Following the rescue, the woman and the children were taken to the corps headquarters in Osogbo, where they were provided with care while efforts were made to establish their identities and locate their family.
The woman reportedly remained unable to communicate clearly for several hours and was subsequently referred to the Amotekun desk of the Gender, Family and Persons with Disabilities Unit for further investigation.
According to the corps, officers were able to obtain fragments of information from the woman which proved useful in tracing her family to the Ogberin area of Ede.
The woman’s husband, Olawale Muideen, who was reportedly out of town, was represented by his younger brother, Mutiu Sodiq, and her first son, Muideen Aliyullah, who came to the corps headquarters to identify her.
Speaking during the reunion, Sodiq, who represented the family, expressed appreciation to the Amotekun Corps for rescuing the woman and her children and ensuring their safe return.
He also commended the operatives for their efforts in obtaining useful information from the woman despite her condition and using it to trace her family.
Sodiq further praised the corps for the humane treatment and care provided to the woman and her children while they remained in its custody.
He said the family had been searching for the woman for days after she failed to return home with the children.
The Corps Commander, High Chief Dr Adekunle Isaac Omoyele, commended members of the public and the media for helping to disseminate information about the rescued woman after the incident was announced.
Omoyele said protecting lives and property remained one of the core mandates of the corps, adding that the operatives who rescued the woman and her children deserved commendation for their vigilance and prompt intervention.
He said, “It is the mandate of the Corps to protect the lives and property of residents of the state. It is commendable that our officers on patrol rescued this woman and her children who were wandering along the road at such a late hour.”
The commander said the incident underscored the importance of protecting vulnerable persons, particularly young children who may be unable to protect themselves.
He also urged families to promptly report missing persons to law enforcement agencies, particularly when the missing persons are children, vulnerable adults or people experiencing mental or psychological difficulties.
Meanwhile, the Field Commander of the corps, Dr Olusoji Benedict Akanni, described the successful identification and tracing of the woman’s family within 24 hours as a significant outcome of the command’s coordinated efforts.
Akanni said the officers worked with the limited information obtained from the woman before eventually tracing her family to Ede.
The woman and her two children were subsequently handed over to their family after the completion of the investigation.
The Osun Amotekun Corps reiterated its commitment to protecting vulnerable members of society, responding promptly to emergencies and working with members of the public to ensure the safety of residents across the state.
The command also urged members of the public to promptly report missing persons and other situations that could pose a threat to lives and safety.