Monarch’s abduction: Oba is alive – Police

Some family members of the abducted Lagos Monarch, Oba Yushau Goriola Oseni, the Oniba of Iba are suspecting an insider provided vital information to the kidnappers before they struck Saturday night.
Residents of the community are also pointing accusing fingers at some persons within the area that gave out information to the hoodlums on the movement of the monarch and how to carry out the abduction.
The family members and residents said the ease with which the kidnappers carried out their operation pointed to  an insider’s job.
‘’The way and manner they arrived the palace, took up strategic positions and how they moved to the Oba’s main house suggest they had information on when to strike.
One of the Oba’s daughters said: ‘’The kidnappers worked on information from an insider. It would have been very difficult to abduct Kabiyesi if they had met him in the parlour.
“Whoever gave them the information knows my dad’s movement and the surroundings because how they escaped by finding their way to the creek at night is still a mystery to some of us in the palace and the community.’’
One of the sons of the Oba disclosed to Daily Sun on Monday that the family is working on a clue and have passed the information to security personnel.
On the health status of the wife of the Kabiyesi shot by the hoodlums, Prince Saheed Oseni denied  a newspaper (Not Daily Sun) report that the Olori died as a result of the gunshot injuries she sustained during the abduction of the Oba.
Prince Oseni said the woman  was recuperating at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and that she successfully underwent operation to remove the bullets.
However, a family  source revealed that the Nigerian Army has moved into the matter, with a view to assisting the police in the rescue operation
A family source told Daily Sun that: “One of his sons, who is an Army Major has brought in soldiers to assist in the rescue mission of his father.
The state Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), Dolapo Badmos said: “We cannot confirm whether or not the kidnappers have contacted the police, but with our strategy, we know that the Oba is still alive.  As for the military, they may be invited if we want, but I assure you that the rescue mission of the Oba, is purely a police operation.   We are working assiduously with everything at our disposal to rescue the Oba and arrest the kidnappers.
“The kidnapping was done by oil pipeline vandals who are now out of job.  The decision of the federal government to draft joint security patrol at some areas, have made the job of pipeline vandalism unattractive.  They now target their victims who they suspect may part with money.”
The Lagos State Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni yesterday visited the abducted monarch family and met with the immediate past Iba local government chairman and also one of the daughters of Oba Oseni.
The CP arrived the palace at 1.35pm and met with two of the  children, Prince Hakeem Oseni and Princess Ramota Oseni for about five minutes and also two of the wives as well as with some traditional chiefs of the community to sympathise with them on the incident.
The Lagos state police boss was conducted round the palace, especially the sitting room where the abduction started, the surrounding of the compound, including the gate where the Oba’s security guard, Sunday Okanlawon was shot dead by the kidnappers.
The CP assured the family that security personnel are working round the clock to rescue the abducted monarch.
Fielding questions from newsmen after his visit to the palace, Owoseni said investigation has commenced and that his men are working hard to rescue the oba.
Owoseni disclosed that he undertook on the spot assessment of the area to ascertain how the crime was perpetrated, and urged the kidnappers to release the monarch and others they are holding for ransom.
He confirmed that most of the criminals have lived in the community and know the environment well to operate in the night, and that they return to commit crime in the same place they lived. The CP urged the hoodlums to take advantage of government various platforms to acquire skills or engage in meaningful jobs rather than take to crime.
Meanwhile, more than 52- hours after the monarch  was abducted in his palace, Saturday night, the kidnappers have not  contacted the  his family.
A member of the royal family told our correspondent that since Saturday, the kidnappers have not reached out to anybody or state their demand, noting that the situation is worrisome because of the state of health of the  Oba.
By Gabriel Dike, Christopher Oji and Shina Ogunbiyi

source: Sun News