LAGOS, JULY 18, 2016 – The family of kidnapped traditional ruler of Iba town, Ojo Local Government Area, Lagos, Oba Yushau Oseni, says they have yet to receive any information from his abductors 24 hours after.The 74-year-old first class monarch was abducted from his palace on Saturday at about 8 p.m.
One of the sons, Prince Saheed Oseni, said on Sunday in Lagos that the abductors had not called anyone on his where about or demanded for ransom.
Narrating how the kidnappers abducted their father, Saheed said the monarch had retired to his bedroom at about 7 p.m. with one of his wives before the incident occurred.
Saheed, Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Lagos State University (LASU), said the monarch heard noise from his sitting room and went to check what the matter was.
He added that it was then that he encountered four kidnappers with guns and other dangerous weapon asking for him.
Saheed said that when the kidnappers identified the traditional ruler, they immediately abducted him and took him away to an unknown destination.
He said that one of the wives, Nosifat, informed him that she was with the traditional ruler in the bedroom when they heard noise in the living room.
“The monarch and I came to the sitting room to warn the kids to stop making noise and in the process we met the hoodlums in the palace asking for the where about of the king.
“As soon as they saw him, they wanted to take him away and I came in to ask them what the matter was.
“My attempt to resist their taking him away earned me a slap from one of them,’’ Saheed quoted Nofisat as saying.
Saheed added that another of his wives who also joined in the confrontation and moved to stop them was shot at a close range and was rushed to Igando General Hospital.
“She was later transferred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja for further treatment,’’ he added.
The SSANU chapter chairman said the security guard at the gate, Mr Sunday Okanlawon, who also confronted them, was shot dead at the spot while the monarch’s driver had his legs battered.
A community leader, Alhaji Mustapha Toriola, said the kidnappers walked with the monarch in their midst for about 2,000 metres before escaping through a bush path and zooming off in a boat.
Toriola explained that the hoodlums were shooting sporadically into the air while taking the monarch away.
He added that the residents who saw them could not rescue the traditional because they were armed.
He said the kidnappers also killed a commercial motorcyclist who attempted to obstruct their escape.
“A Civilian Coaster bus driver, Akin Lalupon, was shot inside his vehicle but was rushed to the hospital and health workers are still battling to save his life.’’
The community had been surrounded with security personnel, including the OP Mesa, Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Policemen and even the Vigilantes.
Security officials are already searching for clues that could aid their investigations, while an armoured tank had been stationed at Aji roundabout close to the palace.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Police Command, SP Dolapo Badamus, has confirmed the adduction of the monarch and said that no arrest had been made.
Badmus said the command would collaborate with the Ogun State Police Command to check the activities of kidnappers who use the waterways to carry out their nefarious activities.
The police image maker said that one person was killed by the hoodlums but added that she had yet to confirm the death of the commercial motorcyclist.
Dignitaries, who had visited the palace to sympathise with the family, include the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule and the former Commissioner for Rural Development, Mr Cornelius Ojelabi.
Others are traditional rulers, Church and Muslim leaders, politicians, SSANU-LASU members and the Senior Staff Union in the College of Education in Nigeria (SSUCOEN) Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Ijanikin, Chapter.
Prayers were also offered by the Muslim and Christian religious groups for the safe return of the monarch who celebrated his 40 years anniversary on November 22, 2015.
