police commenced investigation into the abduction of Mrs. Jumoke Oyegbola

The police have commenced investigation into the abduction of Mrs. Jumoke Oyegbola on Tuesday night by unidentified men at Isheri-North area of Ogun State.

PUNCH Metro learnt that on Tuesday, around 9pm, Oyegbola was on her way to a friend’s house at River View Estate, Isheri North LSDPC, in her Mitsubishi Montero car, when some gunmen blocked the road in front of her vehicle and started shooting in the air indiscriminately before dragging her out of her car.

It was gathered that the victim’s car was later discovered by the roadside, less than 200 metres from the scene of the incident.

Her belongings were still in the car, fuelling speculation that she might have been kidnapped.

It was learnt that the family had informed the police and investigations had commenced.

Our correspondent, who visited the scene of the incident on Thursday, learnt from residents that because of the absence of functional street lights in the area, hoodlums easily perpetrated crimes at night.

A bricklayer, Mr. Shina Adeyeye, said the area was dangerous at night. He said, “I have a building project I am working on in the area, but once it is 6:30pm, my workers close for the day because we know that the area is not safe once it is dark. I even heard that a child was also kidnapped here last year.”

A security guard at Tinubu Estate, who craved anonymity, said although vigilantes operated at night and policemen usually carried out routine patrols, the absence of street lights in the area made it susceptible to crimes.

It was also learnt that because the scene where the abduction took place is a boundary between Lagos and Ogun State, policemen from the two commands would collaborate to locate the victim.

The spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Mr. Joseph Jaiyeoba, who confirmed the incident, faulted earlier media reports that it was the Lagos Command that would investigate the incident.

Jaiyeoba said, “The incident did not occur under the Lagos jurisdiction but under Ogun. I inquired from the Divisional Police Officer, Isheri, and he told me the case was not being handled by his division.

“Nevertheless, because of its proximity to Lagos State, our command will partner with the Ogun command on the case.”

The spokesperson for the Ogun State Command, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, however, told our correspondent on the telephone that the case was being treated as abduction rather than kidnap.

“It is true that one Jumoke Oyebola was abducted by gunmen on Tuesday night. We cannot describe the case as that of kidnap because to our knowledge, no ransom has been demanded for now, we are treating it as a case of abduction,” he said.