At least three people suspected to be kidnappers were on
Friday burnt to death in different parts of Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
The suspected
kidnappers, according to sources, were apprehended by youths at the various
locations before a mob eventually set them ablaze.
One of the
suspected kidnappers was burnt to death in the Ayetoro area of Osogbo by a mob,
while the other two were burnt in the Plantation and Igbona areas of the town.
A suspected
kidnapper had on Thursday escaped being lynched by irate youths in the Olaiya
area of the town and it was gathered that the confession of the suspect who
reportedly confessed that he had nine other colleagues in the town prompted
youths of different areas to be vigilant.
The suspect, who,
was however, beaten to a pulp before he was rescued by the Police and a soldier
who was in transit, reportedly confessed that 10 of them came from outside the
state to kidnap young children inOsogbo and its environs.
However, luck ran
against him when a commercial motorcyclist discovered that the suspect who
dressed like an insane person carried a baby who was crying on his hands.
The development
prompted him to inform his other colleagues who chased the suspect and
eventually apprehended him at Akindeko market area where he was later handed
over to the Police who came to the scene to rescue him.
It was, however,
learnt that the angry youths moved round Osogbo and its environs to search for
other kidnappers who could be in different parts of the town and later
apprehended the three suspected kidnappers.
At Ayetoro area of
Osogbo where a suspected kidnapper was burnt early Friday, it was gathered that
the suspected kidnapper was found with a baby inside a bag he carried.
Newsmen gathered
that some drivers at the Ayetoro junction challenged the suspected kidnapper
who reportedly dressed like an insane person to open the bag he carried after
which a baby was found inside it.
The discovery, however, prompted the youths in the area
to mobilize themselves and set the suspected kidnappers ablaze.
When newsmen
visited the scene of the incident, the suspected kidnapper had been burnt
beyond recognition and Police had stormed the area to prevent further breakdown
of law and order.
However, it was
not certain whether or not the rescued kidnapped baby was alive, as all
attempts to see him proved abortive.
It was gathered
that a similar situation occurred in the Plantation and Igbona areas of the
town where youths burnt those suspected to have kidnapped babies in the area to
death.
Meanwhile, the
state Commissioner of Police, Mr Ibrahim Maishanu has condemned the trend of
burning of suspects in the state, describing it as jungle judgment which he
said was against the law.
He said the Police would not allow the state to be turned
into a theatre of crisis and would do everything to forestall further breakdown
of law and order.
While assuring
that the Police would conduct thorough investigations into all the cases, the
Police Commissioner warned people against taking laws into their own hands.
He assured that the Police are on top of the situation in
the state and would not allow it to degenerate.
Also, the state Governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola condemned
the development and warned residents of the state against jungle justice,
saying cases of criminal activities should be reported to law enforcement
agencies, rather than people taking laws into their hands.
The governor, who spoke through the Director, Bureau of
Communications and Strategy, Mr Semiu Okanlawon, stressed that the state
government would join hands with relevant security agencies to ensure proper
security of lives and property of the people.
He assured the
people of the commitment of the present administration to peaceful co-existence
and security of all and sundry.
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