Shockwaves are reverberating across Yorùbáland and the global Yorùbá diaspora following the sudden death of the Baba Ọba (King’s Father) of the famed Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, USA. The late Baba Ọba, Lukman Arohunfale, a revered socialite and traditionalist, passed away under circumstances already sparking fierce controversy. His death comes just days after he publicly accused the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akeem Adéyẹmọ Owoade, of allegedly ordering his courtiers to beat him mercilessly during a recent courtesy visit to the Oyo palace in Nigeria. In a widely circulated voice recording, the deceased recounted how what was meant to be a simple homage turned violent. Although the Baba Ọba had reportedly battled ill health in the past year, growing insinuations suggest that the alleged physical assault may have aggravated his condition, ultimately leading to his untimely death. The palace in Oyo recently denied that s...
A younger brother of abducted Senator
Iyabo Anisulowo, Kola Popoola, says the abductors of her sister have yet
to contact the family members or demand ransom.
Anisulowo, a former Minister of State
for Education, was kidnapped on Wednesday while returning from her farm
at Sawonjo, Igbogila, in the Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun
State.
She was said to have been kidnapped
alongside her driver, Wasiu Afonja; security aide, Damola Akinwande;
and an unidentified cleaner at about 6.30pm.
Afonja, Akinwande and the cleaner were later freed.
Popoola told our correspondent on the
telephone on Thursday at 3.30pm, that Anisulowo had yet to be released,
adding that the abductors had not contacted the family members for
ransom.
He said, “The kidnappers have yet to
contact family members 24 hours after she was kidnapped. I am on my way
to the Aiyetoro Police Station to know the progress the police have made
so far.”
The state Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, led
some members of the state executive council to Anisulowo’s farm at
Sawonjo on Thursday, where he declared that the state was safe and would
not be a haven for kidnappers.
Amosun said, “Ogun State is safe and
secured notwithstanding what has happened. I can assure you that
everybody is involved in the rescue operation – the army, police, SSS,
farmers, hunters – everybody has been involved since it happened.
“We will rescue her alive and bring her back safely. In a matter of hours, we will have cause to thank God over this incident.
“We are ready for the abductors and they
will regret what they have done. Ogun State will never be a comfort
zone for criminals.”
The victim’s husband, Aderemi, expressed satisfaction at “the timely response” of the state government over the incident.
Senator Anisulowo’s driver, Afonja, said the kidnappers waylaid them about a kilometre from the farm.
He said, “They ordered the three of us who were with Mama Anisulowo to lie down. They collected our phones and beat us with cutlasses.
“The men spoke both English and Yoruba languages. Mama kept asking them what they wanted but they didn’t answer.
The governorship candidates of Peoples
Democratic Party and the Unity Party of Nigeria in Ogun State in the
2015 elections, Gboyega Isiaka and Prince Rotimi Paseda, also condemned
Anisulowo’s abduction
They called on the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, to ensure her release and the arrest of her captors.
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