Two unidentified middle-aged women suspected to be kidnappers were on Thursday burnt to death by an angry mob in Iwo, Osun State, while attempting to kidnap some kids around Ori-eru area of the town.
It was learnt that the suspected kidnappers who waited for several hours to perpetrate their inhuman act, were arrested by the residents of the area who caught them red-handed in the process of kidnapping some schoolchildren.
It was gathered that the intervention of the passers-by who responded promptly to the outcries of the children saved them from being kidnapped.
According to reports, the three suspects had wanted to escape but two of them were apprehended, while the only man among them managed to escape.
An eyewitness who identified himself as Tajudeen Salawu, said: “One of them who is a male escaped, while those apprehended were led to the palace of Oluwo with severe beating before they were directed to be taken to the police station for proper action.”
Salawu, however, said while being taken to the police station, the irate mob set the two women ablaze at the junction adjacent the former branch office of Wema Bank, along Oja Ale area in the town.
Speaking with newsmen on the development, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Undie Adie confirmed the incident but frowned at jungle justice meted on the kidnappers.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Iwo division, Mr Ayinla Akanfe, stated that the kidnappers came into the town from a neighbouring community.
Akanfe said himself and some residents tried to stop the mob from killing the suspected kidnappers but their appeal fell on deaf ears.
“Those suspected kidnappers came into Iwo from a neighbouring town. We made effort to stop our people from lynching them. In the process of doing that, I was nearly attacked. We tried to take them inside the palace of Oluwo to prevent them from being killed but the gate was not opened. That was why we leave them,”he said.
