My Mike Adeyemi
An angry mob, mostly youth, on Friday set ablaze property of a suspected kidnapper, simply identified as Ramoni, in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara.
Some of the properties that were torched by the mob included two private cars, two houses and a hotel structure belonging to the suspected kidnapper.
Ramoni, a herder and hotelier, was reportedly whisked away by soldiers along with an accomplice herbalist, Bunmi Popoola, for their alleged involvement in a kidnapping saga in Odo-Owa, Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara, on Thursday.
An unnamed hunter in Odo-Owa reportedly prevented the payment of ransom to secure the freedom of a kidnapped victim, ”who was tied down in a Fulani settlement called Ruga” and alerted security agencies.
Some of the kidnappers reportedly fled the scene while Ramoni, who was in his car with Bunmi heading toward Ruga at the time, were suspected to have a hand in the incident and were promptly arrested and whisked away by soldiers.
The 27-year-old Popoola, Ramoni’s alleged accomplice, was formerly a kingmaker in Odo-Owa community but was in October 2016 expelled by the Odo-Owa Traditional Council for criminal activities.
It was gathered that the soldiers arrested the two suspects and took them to an unknown destination on Thursday to prevent them from being lynched and also prevent the razing of the Odo-Owa Police Division where they were initially detained.
The youths had stormed Ramoni’s residence and hotel premises in Omu-Aran as early as 9 a.m on Friday and set the property ablaze.
A source who spoke with our reporter under anonymity said the incident happened on Wednesday in a two different attacks as three people were earlier abducted following another kidnaps of a civil defence officer.
He added that the vigilante group of the community struck into action with the assistance of a retired navy officer which led to the arrest of the culprits.
