Mr Idowu Owohunwa, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, has urged Nigerians against employing domestic servants without conducting thorough background checks.
Before hiring unknown people as domestic help, he encouraged companies to undertake a comprehensive background check.
Owohunwa, speaking on the sidelines of a recent parade of some suspects in Lagos, stated that it was vital to do a thorough research on prospective employees in order to prevent injury and criminality in the home.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, there have been allegations of domestic workers robbing and killing their employers in the state.
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Consider the case of Joseph Ogbu, who was condemned to death by a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja on March 27, 2023, for killing his employer, Oreoluwa John, 38, and her mother, Adejoke, 89.
Two days after he was hired, Ogbu stabbed Oreoluwa with a sharp weapon and strangled her mother to death.
He robbed them of a Toyota Camry Saloon car, an LG plasma TV, a Motorway handset, one Gionee handset, one Nokia phone, one i-Tel Phone, and a power bank before being apprehended by police on patrol.
Similarly, on March 18, a driver assassinated his employer, Mr Femi Egbeoluwa, an ex-Permanent Secretary with the Ogun State Government, and his wife, Funmi, at their home in Ikeja, Lagos.
However, preliminary police inquiry indicated that the culprit stole £5,000 (N2.8 million) destined for late Egbeoluwa’s medical expenditures abroad.
In addition, in August 2023, the Lagos Police caught a driver who stole and sold his madam’s vehicle a few weeks after being hired.
The police were able to track him down and arrest him after conducting an intelligence investigation, only to learn that he was a prominent armed robber, and an English pistol was discovered from him in his room where he slept with his madam.
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The police apprehended a “maiguard” (someone who guards the gate and building) in August, stole his principal’s Mercedes Benz, drove it to Owode, Ogun, and sold it.
In addition, the police tracked him down, detained him, and retrieved the vehicle using an intelligence network.
“This is a pointer that there is a need to conduct full vetting of the personal aides we engage,” Owohunwa said.
“The more they get to know your secret and routine, the more vulnerable you become.”
“If you are unsure, we always encourage citizens to work with law enforcement.” We can help with the vetting process.”
