Mob beats up 84-year-old suspected kidnapper in Ondo

An 84 year- old man narrowly escaped death after a mob beat him up in Ondo town, headquarters of Ondo west local government for allegedly trying to kidnap a young pupil. The suspect simply identified as Ayinde, a grandfather, was said to have been caught by residents in the Odosida area of the town while […]

An 84 year- old man narrowly escaped death after a mob beat him up in Ondo town, headquarters of Ondo west local government for allegedly trying to kidnap a young pupil.

The suspect simply identified as Ayinde, a grandfather, was said to have been caught by residents in the Odosida area of the town while trying to escape with the school kid.

Sources said the intervention of policemen who raced to the scene close to the palace of the Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Kiladejo, saved the 84-year-old man from possible death.

But some of the people later told journalists that the suspect seemed mentally imbalanced.

One of the witnesses who spoke under the condition of anonymity said   the action of the old man prompted the suspicious residents  who  raised  alarm.

The witness said the alleged kidnapper was dragged around by the angry mob to ask for his identity before he was forced to confess to the crime and beaten.

"The old man was caught, by one of the residents in the area, dragging the little boy to an unknown destination.

"Immediately, an alarm was raised when it became suspicious that the boy does not know the old man by judging from his behaviour.

"He was nearly lynched,” he said.

Ondo state police command spokesman, Femi Joseph confirmed the incident to journalists in Akure.

He said the suspect has been moved to Akure, the headquarters after the incident was reported, and put in police custody.

"The information I was able to gathered from the DPO is that the old man was caught by some residents for attempting to kidnap a little child in the area,” Joseph said.

"And in that process, they bounced on the suspect, by beating him to pulp with even an attempt to lynch him to death.”