The Oyo State Police Command has rescued a United States-based medical doctor from mob action following a false kidnapping alarm in Ibadan, the state capital.
The command disclosed this in a statement released on Wednesday by the state police public relations officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka.
According to the police, the incident occurred on Monday at about 2:30 p.m. around the 2nd Powerline Area, Ologuneru, along the Eleyele-Ido Road in Ibadan.
The statement said officers responded to a distress call alleging that a suspected kidnapper was about to be lynched and set ablaze by an angry mob.
“Upon receipt of the information, a combined team of Patrol and Detective Officers led by the Divisional Crime Officer Eleyele Police Station (DCO) immediately mobilized to the scene where the suspect was successfully rescued from the enraged crowd.
“However, before the arrival of the Police, his Lexus RX 330 SUV had already been set ablaze by the mob, while two young girls identified as Deborah, aged 15 years, and Rebecca, aged 12 years, found inside the vehicle, were equally taken into protective custody alongside the suspect for proper investigation,” the statement read.
Preliminary findings, according to the PPRO, revealed that the victim, identified simply as Dr. Afolabi, is a medical doctor practising in the United States and not a kidnapper as alleged in viral social media reports.
“Further findings established that the two girls found inside the vehicle were legally taken from one Mrs. Idowu Abimbola, aged 56 years, of Eleyele Area, Ibadan, with the intention of delivering them to the victim’s mother for the purpose of assisting with household chores.
“In the course of investigation, Mrs. Idowu Abimbola was invited to the station where she confirmed the arrangement, while the two girls equally corroborated the account and related freely with the said woman, thereby dispelling the suspicion of abduction,” the statement added.
Olayinka explained that the misunderstanding began when Dr. Afolabi attempted to gain access through the Polytechnic gate and was stopped by a security guard for routine vehicle inspection.
“Upon lowering the vehicle’s window glass, the two girls were allegedly seen half-naked, a situation which immediately aroused suspicion among bystanders and security personnel.
“It was gathered that the victim’s inability to provide satisfactory answers to questions asked at the scene, coupled with his decision to turn away from the checkpoint, further heightened suspicion.
“The situation was compounded by the inability of the two girls to speak the local language or properly express themselves in English, thereby fueling the false alarm of kidnapping.
“The development consequently led to a mob chase and eventual interception of the victim by irate youths who reportedly ignored all explanations offered by him and descended heavily on him, inflicting severe bodily injuries before the timely intervention of the Police.
“The victim was immediately rushed to the Police Medical Services for urgent medical attention and is currently responding to treatment,” the statement said.
The police said statements had been obtained from eyewitnesses, including an okada rider allegedly hit during the confusion, while efforts were ongoing to identify and arrest those involved in the mob action and destruction of property.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Abimbola Olugbenga, condemned the mob action and the spread of false information capable of creating tension and undermining security in the state.
He warned against jungle justice, self-help, and the circulation of unverified reports on social media, saying such actions threaten public peace and order.
The commissioner also directed a full investigation into the incident and ordered the arrest of all those involved in the attack for prosecution in accordance with the law.
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