The Oyo State Police Command has rescued a United States-based Nigerian medical doctor, Dr. Afolabi, from a mob attack in Ibadan, Oyo State, after he was wrongly accused of kidnapping.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at about 2:30 PM in the 2nd Powerline Area of Ologuneru along the Eleyele–Ido Road.
In a statement on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, Police Public Relations Officer, Ayanlade Olayinka, said operatives received distress calls that a suspected kidnapper was being attacked and a vehicle set ablaze by an angry crowd.
A patrol and detective team from the Eleyele Division was deployed to the scene and rescued the victim. However, the doctor’s Lexus RX 330 SUV was already burnt.
Two girls, Deborah (15) and Rebecca (12), were found inside the vehicle and taken into protective custody.
Preliminary findings showed Dr. Afolabi was wrongly accused following a misunderstanding that escalated into mob action.
Police said the minors had been lawfully handed over to a 56-year-old woman, Mrs. Idowu Abimbola of the Eleyele area, for domestic assistance and were being transported under that arrangement.
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Mrs. Abimbola later confirmed the arrangement at the station, while the girls also corroborated her account.
The command explained that suspicion arose after the doctor was stopped for routine checks near the Polytechnic area, where the minors were seen inside the vehicle after inspection.
Tension escalated when he struggled to explain the situation and attempted to leave, triggering a mob chase.
Police added that the children’s inability to communicate fluently in local dialects further fueled suspicion.
Dr. Afolabi was attacked and injured before police restored order and rushed him for treatment at a police medical facility.
Witness statements, including that of an injured okada rider, have been obtained as investigations continue.
The Commissioner of Police condemned the attack as jungle justice, warning against misinformation and mob actions, and ordered a full investigation to identify and prosecute those involved.