Nigerians have been urged not to employ domestic helpers without conducting thorough background checks, according to Mr. Idowu Owohunwa, the commissioner of police for the state of Lagos.
Before hiring a stranger as domestic assistance, he suggested that employers run a comprehensive background check on them.
In order to prevent injury and crime in the house, according to Owohunwa, it is essential to thoroughly investigate potential employees. He made this statement while speaking on the sidelines of a recent parade of some suspects in Lagos.
Domestic workers have reportedly killed and robbed their bosses in the state, according to The News Agency of Nigeria.
Consider Joseph Ogbu, who was found guilty of killing his employer Oreoluwa John, 38, and her mother Adejoke, 89, and was given the death penalty by the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja on March 27, 2023.
Two days after starting his job, Ogbu killed Oreoluwa by strangling her and killing her mother.
He stole a Toyota Camry Saloon, an LG plasma TV, a power bank, a Nokia phone, an i-Tel phone, a Gionee smartphone, a Motorway handset, and several other items from them before being apprehended by officers on patrol.
Similar to this, a driver murdered his employer, Mr. Femi Egbeoluwa, a former permanent secretary with the Ogun State Government, and his wife, Funmi, at their home in Ikeja, Lagos, on March 18.
However, a preliminary inquiry by the police found that the suspect had stolen £5,000 (N2.8 million), which was intended for the late Egbeoluwa’s international medical bills.
The Lagos Police also detained a driver in August 2023 who had stolen and sold his madam’s car a few weeks after starting work there.
The police were able to locate and apprehend him thanks to intelligence work, only to learn that he was a prominent armed robber. His room, where he lodged with his madam, also had an English revolver that had been recovered from him.
The Mercedes Benz of the man who was being arrested by the police for being a “maiguard” (someone who watches over the building and gate) was taken to Owode, Ogun, where it was later sold.
The police also located him, detained him, and retrieved the vehicle using an intelligence network.
The need for thorough vetting of the personal assistants we hire, according to Owohunwa, is indicated by this.
Your vulnerability increases as they get closer to you and learn more about your routine and secrets.
We always encourage residents to work with the police if they have any questions. The vetting procedure can benefit from our help.
