by Oge Okonkwo

A middle-aged man who identified himself as Raimi Wasiu, from Osogbo, Osun State, was set ablaze by an angry mob at Odota area of Ilorin, Kwara State, on Sunday.

Wasiu a suspected kidnapper who faked insanity, was said to have been caught while  trying to kidnap a nine-year-old child.

The suspect, upon being caught, confessed to be a kidnapper along with seven others and also claimed to be a lorry conductor adding that hardship was the reason he went into such act.

Leadership reports:

Witnesses said residents of the area have long been suspicious of the man’s activities around Odota bridge, where he allegedly lived in an abandoned building by the roadside.

The suspect was said to have beaten a resident who caught him; a situation which led to a mob attacking him at the abandoned building where he reportedly resided.

One of the witnesses who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the victim was chased from the building towards Eyenkorin and dispossessed of many charms, rings and amulets by his captors.

He was said to have told the crowd that he, alongside others, worked for a cleric resident around Hajj Camp, Ilorin.

“At that point, the crowd, which could not wait for further confessions, were said to have descended on him with sticks, stones and other dangerous objects before setting him ablaze,” the witness explained, adding that the police was called to the scene but before their arrival, the suspect had already been set ablaze but they took his corpse away.

When contacted, the spokesman of the state police command, Olufemi Fabode (DSP) confirmed the incident.