Mob burns US-based doctor’s SUV over false kidnapping alarm in Ibadan

by · The Eagle Online

Operatives of the Oyo State Police Command have rescued a United States-based medical doctor from mob action following a false kidnapping alarm in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The command disclosed the incident in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka.

According to the police, the incident happened on Monday around 2:30 p.m. at the 2nd Powerline Area, Ologuneru, along the Eleyele-Ido Road in Ibadan.

The police said officers responded to a distress call reporting that a suspected kidnapper was about to be lynched and burnt by an angry mob.

The statement said: “Upon receipt of the information, a combined team of Patrol and Detective Officers led by the Divisional Crime Officer Eleyele Police Station 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.”

Police identified the victim simply as Dr. Afolabi and said preliminary investigations confirmed he is a medical doctor based in the United States and not a kidnapper as claimed in viral social media reports.

The command explained that the two girls found in the vehicle were legally handed over to him for domestic assistance at his mother’s residence.

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The statement read: “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 police said the misunderstanding started when the doctor attempted to pass through the Polytechnic gate and was stopped by a security guard for a routine search.

According to the statement: “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 police added that the inability of the girls to speak Yoruba fluently or communicate properly in English worsened the situation and triggered the false alarm.

The statement said: “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.”

Police said the victim was rushed to the Police Medical Services for treatment and is currently responding to care.

The command added that statements had been obtained from eyewitnesses, including an okada rider reportedly hit during the confusion, while efforts were ongoing to identify and arrest those responsible for the mob action and destruction of property.

Commissioner of Police Abimbola Olugbenga condemned the mob attack and warned against jungle justice and the spread of unverified information on social media.

He said such actions threaten public peace and security and directed a full investigation into the incident, including the arrest and prosecution of all those involved.

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