The Kwara State Police Command has made the clarification on viral social media that two kidnappers were struck dead by lightning in the Oro-Ago area of Kwara State.
A statement on Saturday, 15th July 2023 signed by the Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Okasanmi Ajayi, said that the two young boys killed by that unfortunate lightning were herders aged 10 and 12 years old.
SP Ajayi further said that this was revealed by the father of the victims, who was accompanied by Mohammed Oni Anishere, the chairman of the Oro-Ago vigilante group, Mumini Usman, the leader of vigilante Oko, Chief Olukosi of Oke-Oyan, and Idris Male, also of Oke-Oyan.
The statement read, “The command wishes to confirm that lightning killed two young people, but they were not kidnappers, as was being erroneously amplified in the viral video. To this end, the command wishes to advise the good people of Kwara State to discountenanced the story as no such thing happened, meanwhile, four suspected kidnappers arrested around Oro-Ago Forest have been charged in court.
“In another unfortunate kidnapping incident that took place in Isanlu-Isin on July 13, 2023, at about 1700hrs, the following victims were abducted between Ijara-Isin and Isanlu-Isin: 1. Dipe Ajayi 2. Kunle Abolarin 3. Femi Abolarin, and 4. Femi Ajayi, all of Oke-Aran, Isanlu-Isin.
“Acting on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit stationed within the Isin axis, local hunters and vigilantes swung into action and gave the abductors a hot chase, leading to the abandonment of the Siena bus conveying the victims at the time of the incident and one of the victims named Oke Olatunji was rescued by the team.
“Today the CP personally led another special tactical team on a search and rescue operation into the forests within Isin, in the process, another victim identified as Femi Ajayi, with a bullet injury was rescued and brought to the health center in Isanlu-Isin, where he is currently receiving medical attention.
“At the palace of HRH Oba Olugbenga Oloyede Solomon, the Olusin of Isanlu-Isin. The CP met vigilantes, hunters, and other community leaders, where issues affecting the area, in general, were discussed and strategies and plans were implemented to forestall any further ugly occurrences, as efforts are still being doubled to free the remaining victims and possibly arrest the criminals.
“Meanwhile, CP Ebunoluwarotimi Adelesi inspected the police post in the town and promised to increase the number of officers in the station to further enhance the safety and security of the people in the area.
