An 18-year-old boy narrowly escaped being lynched yesterday by an angry mob for allegedly trying to kidnap some school children in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The incident which occurred at Amolaso area of the ancient town, according to an eye witness account, happened when some students of a private school were playing at the school playing field when they noticed the unusual behavior of the boy identified as Biodun Sodiq.
Narrating the ordeal to our correspondent, the head teacher of the school, Mr. Adeyemi Adeleke, stated that if not for the vigilance of the residents, the boy would have made away with some of their students who were playing on a field behind the school compound.
According to him, “we were all inside the school busy collating the students’ report cards while some students were on the field playing football. One of the residents just came in to alert us that a boy is with the children on the field and they suspected him. I quickly rushed down there and enquired from him about his mission.
He was speaking like a Fulani boy and before I could speak further, he had removed a knife with him and we started fighting. He wounded me, but with the help of the people in the area, we overpowered him and handed him over to the vigilante group in their office.”
He further stated that the matter was later moved to Ibara police station by the vigilante after he had made a statement in their office.
“The police could not help out as we were told to follow the man to his residence to confirm whether he was sane or not,” the head teacher said.