11th April, 2014
Stephen Oni,Ilorin
A middle-aged woman suspected to be a kidnapper was on Friday, 11 April lynched by an irate mob in Ilorin, Kwara state capital, after she allegedly snatched a toddler from her mother.
It was gathered that the woman, whose identity could not be ascertained, was stripped following accusations that she stole the toddler and was rounded up by some youths, beating her to a pulp before setting her ablaze.
The incident which occurred at Emir’s road, not far from Opo-Malu junction, caused panic among residents, shop owners, commuters and pedestrians. Some motorists, including commercial drivers plying the route abandoned their vehicles and took to their heels, while others made a detour to avoid being lynched.
The deployment of armed policemen from Division A of the state command to the scene, prevented the situation from degenerating, as gunshot was fired into the air to disperse the irate youth.
An eyewitness said: “The incident happened this morning. A nursing mother who was cuddling a baby was alighting from an okada (motorcycle) and asked the female kidnapper to help her hold her baby. But before she knew what was happening, the woman fled with the child.”
The eyewitness added that: “When they discovered that the woman was unperturbed, they poured kerosene on her and set her ablaze at the scene. Immediately the policemen arrived the scene, they started shooting and everybody scampered for safety,”said an eye witness who craved anonymity.
When contacted, the state Commissioner of Police, Ambrose Aisabor, confirmed that the alleged kidnapper later died, adding that some people have been arrested in connection with the incident.