Mob sets three suspected kidnappers ablaze in Osogbo

Three youths suspected to be kidnappers met their untimely death in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Friday as irate youths beat them to coma before setting them ablaze.

Our correspondent gathered that two of the suspected kidnappers were burnt on Friday morning; one at Plantation area and the other one at Ayetoro area of the town.

A resident told our correspondent that the jungle justice started on Thursday night when one suspected kidnapper was burnt to death at Igbona area of the state around 9p.m.

A shop attendant at Ayetoro told our correspondent on Friday that some youths in the area had accosted a woman behaving like an insane person and found a baby in a bag she was carrying.

He said that the youths descended on the suspect  and beat her to a pulp before setting her ablaze.

The attendant said that the woman was burnt to ashes before the police could arrive at the scene.

It was gathered that a similar thing happened at Plantation area of the town where another suspected kidnapper was also burnt to death.

Earlier on Thursday, a young man who was wearing dreadlocks was caught at Alekuwodo area. He was accused of attempting to kidnap some kids.

An okada rider in the area told our correspondent that the man had been passing through the area behaving like a mad man but was caught when some residents discovered that he was holding three kids by the hand and leading them away.

The motorcyclist added that some youths who caught the suspect stripped him and they were surprised because he was covering his private part.

According to him, this development made them to probe him and he was said to have confessed that he and nine others were in Osogbo with a mission to kidnap children.

The irate youths had gathered used tyres and got some fuel, but the suspect was lucky as policemen and soldiers arrived at the scene and saved him.

He was taken to the police headquarters in Osogbo but some youths besieged the police station demanding that the police should release the suspect to them.

A resident living around the area told our correspondent that policemen had difficulties in containing the situation and the mob was dispersed only after they had fired bullets and tear gas into their midst.

Some of the okada riders, who besieged the police command were said to have been arrested and detained while about hundred motorcycles were seized by the police.

Some of the owners of the motorcycles while protesting the seizure visited The PUNCH Office in Osogbo to register their anger.

One of the okada riders, Abdulrauf Akindele, who spoke on behalf of the affected riders, said that the seizure of the motorcycles and the arrest of those who rescued the kids from the kidnappers were unfortunate.

Akindele said, “The man who was arrested at Alekuwodo confessed that they were 10 in town. He told us that he had already kidnapped three children and they were at a location at Isale Ijetu.

“We were surprised because the police team which came to rescue the guy said they were going to Isale Ijetu where the kids were but they went to the Police Command without going to Isale Ijetu.

“We followed them to the command headquarters and they started shooting at us. They arrested some of us and even some who were not commercial motorcyclists were seen on the road and they apprehended them.”