Woman, 2-yr-old son detained in place of debtor husband

A woman, Uju Ukeje, and her two-year-old son have been detained at the Ladipo Police Post in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos Station, because her husband, Gibson Ukeje, owed a company some money and could not pay back the debt on time.

According to the report, the police arrested the woman and her son whose name is given as Emmanuel, when the police went to effect the arrest of Gibson but could not find him. They were detained for two days despite pleas from some residents not to do so.

Narrating her ordeal, Uju said:

“On January 4, 2016, my son and I were in my restaurant at Egbeda when policemen, led by one Sergeant Jonathan, came there and ordered everyone to get out.

He locked up my restaurant. I pleaded with him to tell me my offence. The sale’s representative lady from the company, who supplied goods to my husband, stepped out. She said she was the one who ordered for my arrest because my husband couldn’t be reach.

It was not my husband's intention not to pay their money. My husband was robbed; that was why he couldn’t repay the company. All the food in my restaurant got spoilt on that fateful day.

When we got to the station, the policeman threatened to take my baby away from me. He later took my baby, gave him to someone and locked me up. I wasn’t released until my husband paid the company. We were detained for two days without food."