17th July, 2016
Son of the abducted Lagos monarch, Alhaji Kabiru Oseni says his father’s abductors have not yet established contact with the family to demand for a ransom.
Oba Yushau Goriola Oseni, the Oniba of Ibaland, was abducted by gunmen on Saturday night in his palace at Iba in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria. His guard was killed while one of his wives was shot.
Reacting to the development, Oseni lamented that he was coming from Oto-Ijanikin when he was informed by his sibling that his father had been kidnapped by some gunmen.
“They left with the wife’s phone. This is embarrassing. And since his abduction, they have not called nor demand for anything. What is paramount to me at this time is the release of my father,” he said.
Lagos deputy Governor, Dr. Oluranti Adebule was among the sympathizers who visited the oba’s palace on Sunday to assure the family that the monarch would be released.
Adebule condemned the kidnap of the aged monarch, but expressed hope that the traditional ruler would be rescued soon.
He appealed to the kidnappers to immediately release the monarch as the king had various duties to perform to his subjects.
“I am appealing to the kidnappers to release the elder man. He is a king and has various responsibilities to perform. We need his wisdom and leadership in this town,” she said.
Our correspondent gathered that a joint taskforce comprising the police, army and the navy had begun manhunt to rescue the kidnapped monarch.
Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Lagos State Police Command, Dolapo Badmos said the police had begun manhunt for the kidnappers in a bid to rescue Oseni.
She said the gunmen who abducted the traditional rulers might be pipeline vandals who resorted to kidnapping since their vandalism business had been curtailed.
Badmos added that the Lagos police would work with their counterparts from Ogun State to ensure that the monarch was released at the shortest time possible.
Kazeem Ugbodaga