The Oyo State Police Command rescued a US-based medical doctor from mob action following a false kidnapping alarm in Ibadan, the state capital.
The command announced this in a statement issued on Wednesday by DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the state police public relations officer.
According to the police, the incident occurred on Monday about 2:30 p.m. near the 2nd Powerline Area, Ologuneru, on the Eleyele-Ido Road in Ibadan.
According to the statement, authorities responded to a distress call stating that a suspected kidnapper was about to be lynched and set on fire by an irate mob.
“Upon receipt of the information, a combined team of patrol and detective officers led by the Divisional Crime Officer of 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.
According to the PPRO, preliminary checks have found that the victim, simply known as Dr. Afolabi, is a medical doctor practicing in the United States, not a kidnapper as claimed in viral social media stories.
“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 claimed that the misunderstanding started when Dr. Afolabi attempted to enter the Polytechnic gate but was stopped by a security guard for a normal vehicle inspection.
“Upon lowering the vehicle’s window glass, the two girls were allegedly seen half-naked, a situation that 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 claimed statements had been received from eyewitnesses, including an okada rider who was allegedly injured during the commotion, and that attempts were underway to identify and arrest those responsible for the mob activity and property destruction.
The state’s Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Olugbenga, criticized the mob activity and the transmission of false information, both of which have the potential to cause friction and undermine security.
He warned against jungle justice, self-help, and the spread of false allegations on social media, saying they endanger public peace and order.
The commissioner also ordered a thorough investigation into the incident and the arrest of all those involved in the attack for prosecution under the law.
