Govt working hard to rescue Iba monarch, others –Ambode •Abductors yet to establish contacts with family –Son

Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, has assured residents that efforts are being put in place to make kidnapping a thing of the past in the state.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, who briefed journalists at the end of the meeting, said government and all security agencies in the state were bothered about the emerging crime of kidnapping, assuring that efforts were on to rescue all those kidnapped recently in the state, including the Oniba of Ibaland, Oba Yushau Goriola Oseni.

“What we want to assure the people is that we are putting efforts together to ensure that not just the monarch is rescued, but other victims are rescued and we bring those criminals to justice,” Owoseni said.

Meanwhile, as anxiety mounts in Iba, headquarters of Iba Local Council Development Authority, findings have revealed that abductors of the traditional ruler of the town.  Oseni are yet to establish contacts with the family.

It would be recalled that suspected gunmen last Saturday evening stormed the Iba Community at about 8:00 p.m. and abducted Oba Oseni from his palace.

One of the children of the abducted Oba, who spoke anonymously on phone with newsmen on Tuesday, lamented the development, saying that the monarch’s immediate and extended families are  apprehensive and worried about the situation, as well as  the  health of their father as the abductors were yet to establish any contact with the family.

“We are not just worried, but greatly worried that 72 hours after, the abductors have not established contacts with us. We are appealing to them not to hurt him but they should allow him, return home safely.

“We are also praying and fervently wishing that he will return home safely,” he further added.

When asked whether their father’s abductors had demanded for ransom, the prince said, “They have not demanded for any ransom, neither have they established contacts with us.”

Meanwhile, sympathisers and religious leaders have continued to throng the palace, assuring of save return of the prominent Oba.