A two-year-old girl who was stolen while her mother was busy selling yam tubers at Mile 12 Produce Market, Lagos has been rescued.

The Lagos State police spokesman, SP Chike Oti, said in a statement on Wednesday that the child was rescued from one Elizabeth Ibezim who allegedly took her away without the consent of her mother.

“The incident took place at Mile 12 Yam market, Ketu, Lagos, where the child was taken away from the stall of her mother who was busy selling her wares at the popular market.

“When she eventually noticed that her child was missing, she became frantic and a search party was immediately raised to help her find her child.

“Luck, however, ran out on the suspect when she was spotted with the child on her back as she was about to board a commercial vehicle at Ketu bus stop, a reasonable distance from where the child was taken.

“The desperate mum rushed to the suspect and struggled to collect the baby from her, raising the alarm which attracted a mob that nearly lynched the woman save for the quick intervention of a nearby police team,” he said.

The police spokesman said that the case was currently under investigation at the Gender Section of the Lagos State Police Command.

In another development, the police was investigating a case of defilement against 73-year-old Pa Fola Olowoigbo of No 2, Fela Ahmed Street, Agric, Ikorodu, Lagos State.

Oti said the suspect allegedly defiled the 14-year-old until she became pregnant.

“The suspect who hailed from Ago- Iwoye, Ogun State is a local taxi driver and next door neighbour to the child’s mother.

“It was said that the victim was always sent on errands by the suspect unknown to the mother that he had ulterior motives,” he said.

Oti, therefore, warned parents to be wary of whom they entrust their children with.