Residents of Jobele in Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State on Monday staged a protest after a suspected kidnapper apprehended by members of the community was allegedly released by the police without explanation.
The protest followed a series of kidnapping incidents that have reportedly plagued the community in recent months. Locals say Jobele has recorded no fewer than seven kidnapping-related attacks recently, heightening fears among residents. The latest incident occurred between Saturday night and early Sunday morning when armed assailants attacked a resident, leaving the victim severely injured. The victim was initially taken to the General Hospital and later referred to Ogbomoso for further medical treatment.
Disturbed by the rising insecurity, residents organized a community vigil on Sunday night that lasted into the early hours of Monday. At about 1:00 a.m., members of the vigil group reportedly apprehended a suspicious individual allegedly found in possession of a gun, a cutlass and other dangerous weapons. The suspect was subsequently handed over to officers at the Jobele Police Station for investigation.
However, tension escalated when community members visited the police station on Monday morning to follow up on the case and were allegedly informed that the suspect had already been released. The development sparked anger among residents, who questioned the circumstances surrounding the release and demanded accountability from the authorities.
In protest, residents, including students and youths, blocked the Old Oyo–Ibadan Road along the Ibadan–Oyo–Ogbomoso highway, disrupting traffic as they demanded an explanation from the police. The demonstrators called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Oyo State Police Command and the Oyo State Government to urgently investigate the matter and address the growing security concerns in Afijio Local Government Area.
Community leaders warned that the alleged release of a suspect linked to violent crime could further embolden criminal elements in the area, stressing that the safety of lives and property must not be compromised.