Gunmen Kidnap Lagos Monarch, Kill 2 | Family yet to be Contacted by Abductors

Credit: PUNCH

74-year-old Lagos monarch, Oba Yushau Goriola Oseni – the Oniba of Ibaland, has been abducted. The first class traditional ruler was abducted from his palace on Saturday at about 8PM.

The family says they have yet to receive any information from his abductors 24 hours after.

Reports say a woman, her 3-months old baby, and a businessman were also abducted in the area.

One of the sons, Prince Saheed Oseni, told NAN on Sunday in Lagos that the abductors had not called anyone on his where about or demanded for ransom.

Narrating how the kidnappers abducted their father, Saheed said the monarch had retired to his bedroom at about 7PM with one of his wives before the incident occurred.

Saheed, Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Lagos State University (LASU), said the monarch heard noise from his sitting room and went to check what the matter was.

He added that it was then that he encountered four kidnappers with guns and other dangerous weapons asking for him.

Saheed said that when the kidnappers identified the traditional ruler, they immediately ‎abducted him and took him to an unknown destination.

He said that one of the wives, Nosifat, informed him that she was with the traditional ruler in the bedroom when they heard noise in the living room.

“The monarch and I came to the sitting room to warn the kids to stop making noise and in the process we met the hoodlums in the palace asking for the where about of the king.

As soon as they saw him, they wanted to take him away and I came in to ask them what the matter was.

My attempt to resist their taking him away earned me a slap from one of them,” Saheed quoted Nofisat as saying.

Saheed added that ‎another of his wives who also joined in the confrontation and moved to stop them was shot at a close range and was rushed to Igando General Hospital.

“She was later transferred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja for further treatment,” he added.

The SSANU chapter chairman said the security guard at the gate, Sunday Okanlawon, who also confronted them, was shot dead at the spot while the monarch’s driver had his legs battered.

A community leader, Alhaji Mustapha Toriola, told NAN the kidnappers walked with the monarch in their midst for about 2,000 metres before escaping through a bush path and zooming off in a boat.

Toriola explained that the hoodlums were shooting sporadically into the air while taking the monarch away.

He added that the residents who saw them could not rescue the traditional because they were armed.
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He said the kidnappers also killed a commercial motorcyclist who attempted to obstruct their escape.

“A Civilian Coaster bus driver, Akin Lalupon, was shot inside his vehicle but was rushed to the hospital and health workers are still battling to save his life,” he added.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Police Command, SP Dolapo Badamus, has confirmed the abduction of the monarch and said that no arrest had been made.

Badmus said the command would collaborate with the Ogun State Police Command to check the activities of kidnappers who use the waterways to carry out their nefarious activities.

The police image maker said that one person was killed by the hoodlums but added that she had yet to confirm the death of the commercial motorcyclist.