Barely two days after a woman and her step-son were kidnapped by suspected herdsmen in Osi community area of Akure North Local Government, Ondo state, the monarch of the town has escaped being kidnapped by the whiskers.
The traditional ruler, Iresi of Osi, Oba David Olajide on Tuesday was waylaid with the same technique used on Sunday when Mrs Olawumi Adeleye and his step-son, Destiny Paul were kidnapped.
Recall that on Sunday, the monarch had raised the alarm about abduction of the victims, who were on their way from church in Akure, the state capital, when suspected herdsmen blocked the road with cattle which forced the vehicle they were driving in to a halt.
It was gathered that the suspected Fulani herdsmen in the failed kidnap attempt had launched the dreaded attack on the monarch along the Akure-Owo highway on his way to his community, Osi, which is less than two kilometres from the Akure airport.
Oba Olajide was said to have confronted the daredevils which aided his escape from the scene.
Narrating the incident, the monarch disclosed that he was on his way to his community from the headquarters of the Nigeria Police in the state following the release of Sunday’s kidnap victims (Mrs Olawumi and step-son, Destiny) by their abductors.
According to the monarch, “after the release of the woman, I took her and her son to the police headquarters to hand them over to the police, so on my way coming back home, the herdsmen blocked the road with their cows, the same way they kidnapped the woman and her son on Sunday when they were returning from church.”
“As I got to the place, I slowed down my car and I saw them coming to attack me but I managed to escape, they hit and damaged my car but through the grace of God I escaped.”
Meanwhile, he revealed that one of the suspected kidnapper was apprehended moments after the kidnap attempt, adding that he has been handed over to the police.
Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO Femi Joseph, stated that the suspect is currently in the police custody.
He added that the police dragnet has been launched towards apprehending other members of the gang.
“We have the suspect with us, we are already making efforts to arrest the fleeing members of the gang and investigation has also commenced,” the PPRO stated.
On Tuesday, reported had it on how men of the Nigeria Army, 32 Artillery Brigade of the Owena Cantonment, In Ondo State, apprehended a suspected member of a kidnap syndicate in the state, identified as Victor John,
He was caught with military camouflage, which he was said to be using to terrorise and as well kidnap residents of the state for ransom.