Oyo: U.S.-based doctor mistaken for kidnapper, vehicle set ablaze

The Oyo State Police Command has rescued a U.S.-based medical doctor from a lynch mob in Ibadan after a false kidnapping alarm led to the burning of his vehicle and a physical assault.

The Oyo State Police Command has successfully rescued a United States-based medical doctor, identified as Dr. Afolabi, from a violent mob in the Ologuneru area of Ibadan. According to a press statement released by the Command on May 12, 2026, the incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. at the 2nd Powerline Area along the Eleyele-Ido Road. Residents had reportedly accused the doctor of being a kidnapper after spotting two teenage girls, aged 12 and 15, in his Lexus RX 330 vehicle. Before a combined team of patrol and detective officers led by the Divisional Crime Officer of Eleyele Police Station could arrive to intervene, an angry crowd had already set the victim’s vehicle ablaze and inflicted physical injuries upon him.

Investigations launched by the police dismissed the kidnapping allegations, confirming that the two girls had been legally placed in the doctor’s care. Police authorities clarified that the teenagers were being transported to the doctor’s mother to assist with household chores, an arrangement corroborated by their guardian. The statement noted: “Mrs Idowu Abimbola, was invited to the station where she confirmed the arrangement, while the two girls equally corroborated the account and related freely with the said woman, thereby dispelling the suspicion of abduction.” The Command revealed that the girls were in protective custody during the inquiry and have since been reunited with their family after the misunderstanding was resolved.

The police traced the origin of the mob action to a routine vehicle check at the Polytechnic gate, where bystanders and security personnel reportedly became suspicious upon seeing the girls partially unclothed inside the car. This visual, combined with the doctor’s initial inability to provide an explanation that satisfied the gathering crowd and communication difficulties with the girls, caused the situation to escalate rapidly into violence. While Dr. Afolabi’s vehicle was a total loss, the Command confirmed he is currently receiving medical treatment and is responding well. The police used the medium to warn residents against jungle justice, urging the public to allow law enforcement to handle suspicious situations.

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