The Oyo State Police Command has rescued a medical doctor practising in the United States from a mob that accused him of kidnapping, after an investigation found the allegation to be false.
The incident occurred on Monday, at about 2:30 p.m., around the 2nd Powerline Area, Ologuneru, along the Eleyele–Ido Road in Ibadan, according to a press release signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Ayanlade Olayinka.
Police said they received a distress call from citizens reporting that a suspected kidnapper was about to be lynched and set ablaze by an angry mob.
Upon receipt of the information, the statement said a combined team of Patrol and Detective Officers, led by the Divisional Crime Officer, Eleyele Police Station (DCO), immediately mobilised to the scene, where the suspect was successfully rescued from the enraged crowd.
However, Mr Olayinka said 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.
“Preliminary investigation subsequently revealed that the victim, identified as Dr Afolabi, is a medical doctor practising in the United States of America and not a kidnapper as falsely alleged in several misleading social media reports currently being circulated.
“Further findings established that the two girls found inside the vehicle were legally taken from 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,” the statement said.
In the course of the investigation, the statement said Mrs Abimbola was invited to the station, where she confirmed the arrangement. At the same time, the two girls equally corroborated the account and related freely with the said woman, thereby dispelling the suspicion of abduction.
How the alarm started
According to the police, the misunderstanding which triggered the false kidnapping alarm began when Mr 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 police said the two girls were allegedly seen half-naked, a situation which immediately aroused suspicion among bystanders and security personnel.
It added 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,” it said.
The police said the victim was immediately rushed to the Police Medical Services for urgent medical attention and is currently responding to treatment.
The command urged members of the public to remain law-abiding, avoid spreading unverified information, and promptly report suspicious activities to the police and other relevant security agencies rather than taking the law into their own hands.
