Jungle Justice: Angry Mob Burn 3 Suspected Kidnappers In Osun

Jungle justice was yesterday carried out in different parts of Osogbo, the Osun state capital, as three suspected kidnappers were burnt to death after being apprehended by youths at the various locations before a mob eventually set them ablaze.

One of the suspected kidnappers was burnt to death at Ayetoro area of Osogbo by a mob, while the other two were burnt at Plantation and Igbona areas of the town.

A suspected kidnapper had on Thursday escaped being lynched by irate youths at 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.

He was however beaten to a pulp before Policemen and a soldier who were on transit rescued him and he reportedly confessed that the 10 of them came from outside the state to kidnap young children in Osogbo and its environs.

Luck however ran against him when a commercial motorcyclist popularly called Okada rider discovered that the suspect who dressed like an insane person carried a baby who was crying on his hands.

He promptly informed his colleagues about what he noticed and they chased the suspect until they caught up with him at Akindeko Market area in the Osogbo metropolis, where he was later handed over to the Police who came to the scene to rescue him.

Angered by the deadly mission of the kidnappers, the angry youths moved round Osogbo and its environs to search for them and they discovered three through the efforts of members of Vigilante group in the area.

At Ayetoro area of Osogbo where a suspected kidnapper was burnt early yesterday, it was gathered that the suspected kidnapper was found with a baby inside a bag he carried.

Some drivers at the Ayetoro junction were said to have 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.

However, it was not certain whether or not the rescued kidnapped baby was alive, as all attempts to see him by Vanguard correspondent in Osogbo proved abortive.

State Commissioner of Police, Mr Ibrahim Maishanu 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 theater of crisis and would do everything to forestall further breakdown of law and order.

While assuring that the Police would conduct thorough investigations of all the cases, the Police Commissioner warned people against taking laws into their own hands.