Top leaders of Osun state All Progressives Congress are allegedly mounting pressure on the Osun state police command to release from detention a suspected kidnapper arrested under LAMECO bridge four days ago.
Verified reports alleged that former House Speaker, Owoeye; former local government commissioner, Adebayo Banik and Spokesperson for the Bola Oyebamiji Campaign Organisation, Hon Remi Omowaiye separately and even jointly visited the police command in the last few days.
Initial information revealed that the APC chieftains reportedly requested the police to release the suspect on the ground that he was a mad man, a suggestion reportedly resisted by the police command.
The pressure is however said to be unrelenting, as the push to get the suspect released from detention has raised eyebrows from public interest and civil society groups.
A director of Public Safety Accountability Group, Comrade Adekola Adesoji who raised the alarm questioned the interest of such high profile figures in a suspected kidnapper.
“This suspect was arrested while disguised under the Lameco bridge. It was obvious the man is linked with a rumoured plot to kidnap Osun school children. The investigation is still ongoing.
“ Strangely, we have credible reports that Hon Owoeye, Hon Banik and Hon Omowaiye have visited the police station to secure his release.
“What is their interest in an alleged kidnapper? Why are the trio putting up an alibi that the suspect is a madman? What is the interest of these politicians in a purely criminal case?
“ We are raising this alarm because we have credible reports earlier that some opposition elements are plotting to stage a fake kidnap of pupils to discredit Governor Adeleke.
“A few days after the reports, false alarms of school kidnappings went viral. We gathered that the opposition was also behind the false rumours.
“ A day after, the suspected kidnapper was arrested under the bridge. The widely held belief was that he is likely one of those recruited to stage a kidnap and discredit the administration of Governor Adeleke.
“ We are therefore worried that some politicians are seeking the release of the suspect. We call on the police not to yield to pressure. The suspect should be appropriately drilled to disclose names of those who recruited him”, the civil society chief was quoted as narrating.
