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The Police Command in Oyo State has rescued a United States of America-based Nigerian medical doctor, Dr. Afolabi, from being mobbed over alleged kidnapping.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said that the incident occurred on Monday at 2:30 p.m. on the Ologuneru road in Ibadan.
In a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Ibadan, Olayinka said that the mob was about to set the doctor ablaze when the police team arrived.
The mob reportedly set fire to the physician’s Lexus RX 330 SUV.
According to PPRO Olayinka, the victim is currently undergoing treatment at the Police Medical Services and is in stable condition.
Olayinka clarified that the two minors found in the vehicle, 15-year-old Deborah and 12-year-old Rebecca are now in police protective custody.
Preliminary investigations confirm that Afolabi, a U.S.-based medical doctor, is not a kidnapper, contrary to viral social media claims. Further evidence indicates the girls were legally collected from Mrs. Idowu Abimbola in the Eleyele area of Ibadan.
Olayinka explained that the girls were to be delivered to Afolabi’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.
“Further investigation revealed that the misunderstanding which triggered the false kidnapping alarm began when Dr. Afolabi attempted to gain access through the Polytechnic Ibadan gate and was stopped by a security guard for routine vehicle inspection.
“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.
“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,” he said.
The police spokesman said that the development led to a mob chase, the doctors eventual interception by irate youths who descended heavily on him and inflicted severe bodily injuries before the police arrived.
Olayinka said that statements have been obtained from eyewitnesses, including an Okada rider allegedly hit during the ensuing confusion.
He said that efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend all individuals involved in the mob action and destruction of property.
Olayinka said the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mr. Abimbola Olugbenga, condemned the act of jungle justice and spread of false and unverified information capable of creating unnecessary tension and undermining the gains of security recorded in the state.
