By The Oyo State Police Command has dismissed a viral kidnapping allegation circulating on social media after rescuing a United States-based medical doctor from an angry mob in Ologuneru, Ibadan.
The incident followed widespread reports on Tuesday that a man allegedly snatched a vehicle with two young girls inside from a supermarket before he was chased and intercepted around the Ologuneru area of Ibadan. The reports further claimed that the children were rescued while the suspect was severely beaten and his vehicle set ablaze by irate youths.
However, in a statement issued on Wednesday, May 13, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said preliminary investigation revealed that the victim, identified as Dr. Afolabi, was not a kidnapper as alleged in the circulating reports.
According to the statement, the police received a distress call at about 2:30 p.m. on Monday regarding an alleged kidnapper who was about to be lynched and burnt alive by a mob around the 2nd Powerline Area, Ologuneru, along the Eleyele–Ido Road.
The statement noted that patrol and detective officers led by the Divisional Crime Officer of Eleyele Police Station immediately moved to the scene and rescued the victim from the mob. However, his Lexus RX 330 SUV had already been set ablaze before the arrival of security operatives.
The police added that two girls, identified as 15-year-old Deborah and 12-year-old Rebecca, were found inside the vehicle and taken into protective custody alongside the victim for investigation.
According to the command, findings later showed that the girls were legally handed over to the doctor by a 56-year-old woman, Mrs. Idowu Abimbola of Eleyele, who intended that they assist the victim’s mother 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 read.
The police explained that the misunderstanding started when Dr. Afolabi attempted to pass through the Polytechnic gate and was stopped by security personnel for routine checks.
The command said suspicion arose after bystanders noticed the two girls inside the vehicle allegedly half-naked, while the doctor reportedly failed to provide convincing answers during questioning and attempted to leave the checkpoint.
Police further stated that the girls’ inability to properly communicate in English or the local language worsened the suspicion and triggered the false kidnapping alarm.
The situation eventually escalated into a mob chase, during which youths reportedly attacked the doctor despite his explanations, inflicting severe injuries on him before the intervention of the police.
The victim was later rushed to the Police Medical Services for treatment and is said to be responding to medical attention.
The command also disclosed that 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 the vehicle.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, condemned jungle justice and the spread of false information capable of creating panic and undermining security efforts in the state.
He warned residents against taking laws into their hands and directed a full investigation into the incident, including the arrest and prosecution of all those involved in the mob attack.
The police also urged members of the public to verify information before sharing it on social media and to report suspicious activities to security agencies rather than resorting to self-help
