Suspected kidnapper escapes lynching in Osun

A 30-year-old man was on Wednesday beaten to a
pulp by residents of Temidire Estate at the Okejetu
area of Osogbo, Osun State, for allegedly attempting
to kidnap a two-year-old girl from her mother’s
shop.
Our correspondent gathered that the suspected
kidnapper who declined to give his identity had gone
to Mrs. Folake Oni’s shop to buy a bottle of soft
drink.
It was not clear if the suspect was sane, but he
behaved like somebody whose mental sanity was
questionable.
He had bruises on some parts of his body and
appeared very weak but he struggled to cover his
genitals with a piece of cloth.
The suspect was said to have gone to the shop, had
the first drink and requested another bottle. But as
the woman went inside to bring the drink, the
suspect was said to have grabbed the girl whose
name is Marvelous.
The mother, on coming back, discovered that the
customer and her baby had disappeared and she
raised the alarm.
An eyewitness, who declined to reveal his identity,
said that the woman on sighting the kidnapper ran
after him and continued shouting for help.
Passersby later joined her in hot pursuit of the
suspect, but the man reportedly dropped the baby
and managed to hide inside a pit.
It was gathered that one of the residents saw him
and also jumped inside the pit dragged him out and
stripped him naked before others joined in beating
him up.
The mother of the kidnapped baby, who spoke with
our correspondent, said the suspect came to her
shop, pretending to be a customer and used the
opportunity to steal her baby and started running.
She said, “He came in and asked for a bottle of soft
drink and I gave him. He requested another bottle
and I went inside to bring it, but on coming back I
discovered that he had grabbed Marvelous and was
running away.
“I shouted for help and my neighbours rushed out,
ran after him and brought him out from where he
was hiding. I thank God that he did not succeed in
kidnapping my baby.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Folasade
Odoro, said she had heard about the case, but was
waiting to be properly briefed on it.