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...
Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have killed a 15-year-old son of a Bauchi state medical doctor identified as Rilwanu Sadiq depsite receiving N4.5 million ransom from his distraught father.it was learnt that the deceased identified as Abubakar, student of a Secondary school in Bauchi was abducted in front of his father’s house along Gombe road in Ningi local government area of the state on April 1st. The father of the deceased identified as Dr. Sadiq who works at the Abubakar Tafawa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi disclosed that he was at work when he got the news of his son’s abduction. He immediately reported the matter to the neighbourhood security outfit as well as the state police. Sadiq said his son’s abductors contacted him and initially demanded for N3 million ransom which he paid. Afterwards they demanded for another N1.5 million. He said he had to pay so he could get reunited with his son.Dr. Sadiq further revealed that “we were giving them at intervals. They got ?2 million hand-to-hand from me. The balance of ?2.5 was paid into about five bank accounts. But they kept asking for more. That was when I said I can’t bear it anymore, not knowing that they will even kill my son.” Dr Sadiq told Premiumtimes. The corpse of his son was exhumed from a shallow ditch inside an uncompleted building not far from their home on Sunday April 12. The distraught Father said he believes that his son’s killers, based on his kidnap and where his body was buried, are well acquainted with his family.“Two suspects have been arrested in relation to the death, and the investigation is on” Datti said reacting on the incident, the Police Public Relations in the state, Kamal Datti said two persons have been arrested in connection with the death.