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| Nigeria Mobile Police |
Fear and tension has gripped the traditional institution across Ondo State following the rate at which traditional rulers are being abducted in recent times.
But the state Police command has asked that any of them in need of police ordeal should apply to the Inspector General of police, IG, Ibrahim Idris through the state police Commissioner, Hilda Harrison.
However, the state police command has directed Divisional Police Officers, DPOs across the state to increase surveillance around the royal fathers to forestall further abductions. Disturbed by the ugly development, the state police Commissioner held an urgent security meeting with the DPO, where the directive was given that kidnapping of royal father’s was becoming embarrassing to the Command and should not be allowed to continue.
Police image maker, Femi Joseph, confirmed that any traditional ruler who is in need of Police ordeal should apply. Joseph hinged this on lack of needed personnel that will go round all the royal father’s across the state. He said that some security strategies have been put in place to take care of the safety of the revered father’s across the state Three Obas and the wife of another traditional ruler were abducted recently in the state.
Their family members had to pay to secure their release from the kidnappers den. The royal fathers include the regent of Akungba, Princess Oluwatoyin Omosowan, who was kidnapped in 2016 while traveling to attend a function in Akure, the state capital. she was rescued two weeks after by security operatives.
Also, in a commando like no fewer than 10 gunmen stormed the palace of the Laragunwa of Iyasan in Irele council area of the state and whisked away the traditional ruler, Oba Abiodun Oyewunmi to an unknown destination. The abductors on arrival in the town headed straight to the palace of the Oba and whisked him away without any resistance from palace guards or family members.
The kidnappers, who came to the town through the Owena River were alleged to have been armed to the teeth hence they operated for over 30 minutes unhindered. Also, the abductors sometimes early this year kidnapped the wife of the traditional ruler of Ikoya in Okitipupa area of the state Grace Faduyile.
She was rescued following intervention of security operatives who shot dead one of her abductors. The latest was the Oniyani of Iyani, Oba Joel Daodu, who gained his freedom four days after his abduction and after paying a ransom of N3 million. Infact, disturbed by the ugly development which had put the Obaship stool into disrepute, the traditional rulers in the state have placed a curse on perpetrators of the “wicked “act across the state.
Their spokeman, Oba Adegbite Adedoyin said, “It is very unfortunate that Obas had to be kidnapped by men of the underworld, it is even a taboo in Yorubaland for anybody, no matter highly placed to lay his hand on an Oba not to talk of kidnapping him.
He said: “This is against the tradition and whoever perpetrated in such an act will soon see the wrath of God.”
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