Ilorin residents lynch two suspected kidnappers in 24 hours

By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin –

Residents of Ilorin, Kwara State, have lynched two suspected kidnappers within 24 hours in separate incidents at Ipata Market and Amilengbe in Ilorin East.

The first victim, a woman, was brutally beaten by a mob before police officers arrived to rescue her. She was rushed to the hospital but was confirmed dead on arrival due to the injuries sustained.

The second victim, a male, was attacked in Amilengbe and beaten to death by residents who suspected him of being a kidnapper.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, described the incidents as unfortunate, confirming that the first occurred around 9:00 a.m. at the Ipata area of Ilorin.

She explained that the woman was initially sighted wandering in the community when misinformed residents accused her of being a kidnapper, leading to the mob attack. Despite swift police intervention, she could not survive. Her body has been deposited at the General Hospital mortuary, while investigations are ongoing.

The police condemned the act of jungle justice, warning that it undermines the rule of law and endangers innocent lives. “Security challenges cannot be resolved through mob action. Rather, they worsen insecurity and erode public safety,” the statement read.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Adekimi Ojo, urged residents to remain calm, law-abiding, and vigilant. He appealed to the public to report suspicious persons or activities to the nearest police formation instead of taking laws into their own hands.

He further called on the people of Kwara State to partner with the police in upholding law, order, and justice while rejecting mob violence in all forms.