The Oyo State Police Command has successfully rescued a United States-based medical doctor, identified as Dr. Afolabi, from a violent mob in Ibadan, the state capital. The incident, which unfolded on Monday, May 12, 2026, at approximately 2:30 PM around the 2nd Powerline Area, Ologuneru, Eleyele–Ido Road, was sparked by a false alarm of kidnapping.

A distress call from concerned citizens alerted the police that a suspected kidnapper was on the verge of being lynched and set ablaze by an angry crowd. A combined team of patrol and detective officers from the Eleyele Police Station swiftly mobilized to the scene. Before their arrival, Dr. Afolabi's Lexus RX 330 SUV had already been torched by the mob, and he had sustained severe bodily injuries. Two young girls, Deborah, aged 15, and Rebecca, aged 12, found inside the vehicle, were taken into protective custody along with Dr. Afolabi for investigation.

Preliminary police investigation quickly dispelled the kidnapping allegations. It was established that Dr. Afolabi is a medical practitioner residing in the United States and had legal custody of the two girls. Further findings revealed that the girls were lawfully taken from Mrs. Idowu Abimbola, 56, of Eleyele Area, Ibadan, with the intention of delivering them to Dr. Afolabi's mother to assist with household chores. Mrs. Abimbola confirmed this arrangement when invited to the station, and the girls corroborated her account, communicating freely with her and confirming their consent.

The misunderstanding that triggered the mob action began when Dr. Afolabi was stopped at the Polytechnic gate for a routine vehicle inspection. Upon lowering his window, the two girls were allegedly seen half-naked, which immediately aroused suspicion among bystanders and security personnel. Dr. Afolabi's perceived inability to provide satisfactory answers and his decision to turn away from the checkpoint further heightened the suspicion. The situation was compounded by the girls' inability to communicate fluently in either the local language or English, fueling the false alarm of abduction. This escalated into a mob chase, with irate youths ignoring explanations and violently assaulting Dr. Afolabi before police intervention.

Dr. Afolabi was immediately rushed to the Police Medical Services for urgent treatment and is currently responding well. Statements have been obtained from eyewitnesses, including an Okada rider reportedly injured during the chaos. Efforts are actively ongoing to identify and apprehend all individuals involved in the mob action and the destruction of property.

Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, vehemently condemned the act of jungle justice and the deliberate spread of false and unverified information. He warned that resorting to self-help, mob violence, and circulating misleading narratives on social media poses serious threats to public peace, law, and order, capable of undermining security gains in the state. The command urged residents to report suspicious activities to security agencies rather than engaging in violence or self-help, reaffirming its commitment to protecting lives and property and ensuring justice.