A 30-year-old man was on Wednesday beaten to a pulp by residents of Temidire Estate at the Okejetu area of Osogbo, Osun State, for allegedly attempting to kidnap a two-year-old girl from her mother’s shop.
Our correspondent gathered that the suspected kidnapper who declined to give his identity had gone to Mrs. Folake Oni’s shop to buy a bottle of soft drink.
It was not clear if the suspect was sane, but he behaved like somebody whose mental sanity was questionable.
He had bruises on some parts of his body and appeared very weak but he struggled to cover his genitals with a piece of cloth.
The suspect was said to have gone to the shop, had the first drink and requested another bottle. But as the woman went inside to bring the drink, the suspect was said to have grabbed the girl whose name is Marvelous.
The mother, on coming back, discovered that the customer and her baby had disappeared and she raised the alarm.
An eyewitness, who declined to reveal his identity, said that the woman on sighting the kidnapper ran after him and continued shouting for help.
Passersby later joined her in hot pursuit of the suspect, but the man reportedly dropped the baby and managed to hide inside a pit.
It was gathered that one of the residents saw him and also jumped inside the pit dragged him out and stripped him naked before others joined in beating him up.
The mother of the kidnapped baby, who spoke with our correspondent, said the suspect came to her shop, pretending to be a customer and used the opportunity to steal her baby and started running.
She said, “He came in and asked for a bottle of soft drink and I gave him. He requested another bottle and I went inside to bring it, but on coming back I discovered that he had grabbed Marvelous and was running away.
“I shouted for help and my neighbours rushed out, ran after him and brought him out from where he was hiding. I thank God that he did not succeed in kidnapping my baby.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Folasade Odoro, said she had heard about the case, but was waiting to be properly briefed on it.
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