A US-based medical doctor was rescued by the Oyo State Police Command after he was wrongly accused of kidnapping and nearly killed in a mob attack in Ibadan.
According to police authorities, the incident happened on Monday afternoon around the 2nd Powerline Area of Ologuneru, along the Eleyele–Ido Road in Oyo State. Officers were alerted after reports that an angry crowd was attempting to lynch a suspected kidnapper.
Police operatives from the Eleyele Division quickly arrived at the scene and rescued the man, identified as Dr. Afolabi, from the mob. However, his SUV had already been set on fire before security forces arrived. Two girls found in the vehicle were also taken into protective custody for questioning.
Investigations later showed that Dr. Afolabi, who is based in the United States, was not involved in any kidnapping activity. The two girls were said to have been legally handed over to him by a woman identified as Mrs. Idowu Abimbola, with the intention of assisting his mother with domestic help.
The misunderstanding reportedly began when the doctor was stopped for a routine vehicle check near a gate in Ibadan, a major city in Ibadan. Suspicion was raised after the girls were seen inside the vehicle, and the doctor struggled to properly explain the situation, while the children could not communicate effectively with bystanders.
The situation escalated quickly, leading to a mob chase, physical assault on the doctor, and destruction of his vehicle before police intervened. He was later taken to a medical facility for treatment and is said to be responding.
The police have condemned the incident, warning against jungle justice and the spread of false information capable of triggering unrest. They also confirmed that efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest those involved for prosecution.
