Ondo mob brutally assault ‘okada rider’ after woman’s false kidnap claims
Ondo State
BY ADETOKUNBO ABIOLA
The Ondo State Police Command have confirmed an incident where a young woman’s false kidnap claim led to the brutal assault on a commercial motorcyclist in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Ondo State Command, DSP Abayomi Jimoh gave the confirmation, disclosing that preliminary investigations showed that the kidnapping allegation was unfounded.
The young woman, Abigael Bright, has been arrested by the Ondo State Police Command and was currently assisting investigators, while the injured motorcyclist, Rasheed Awojobi, has been receiving medical attention
According to information gathered by The Daily Monitor, on Wednesday, June 4, Bright reportedly through the social media accused Awojobi of attempting to kidnap her while conveying her within the Ore metropolis.
The allegation quickly spread across social media platforms, particularly WhatsApp, after Bright allegedly shared the claim on her status.
The allegation sparked panic among residents and passersby, who immediately descended on the rider Awojobi, subjecting him to mob attack, before security operatives intervened.
The victim reportedly sustained injuries to his face and other parts of his body during the attack and was later rescued by police officers.
“The Command has commenced a full investigation into the matter. Preliminary findings indicate that the allegation was false. The suspect is in custody and appropriate legal action will be taken at the conclusion of investigations,” the PPRO stated.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Felix Ohagwu, expressed concern over what he described as the growing trend of false alarms and the spread of unverified information capable of causing public disorder, warning that false accusations, especially those bordering on kidnapping, could have serious consequences, including mob violence, loss of innocent lives and the breakdown of law and order.
