An aide to Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, Shakirulahi Babatunde, has been accused of staging his own kidnapping in a bid to extort the state government. According to reports, Babatunde sent a text message claiming he had been kidnapped, prompting an investigation by the Osun State Police Command. The police have launched a probe into the incident, with the state's police command taking the lead.
The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to the development, accusing the Adeleke government of attempting to implicate the party in the alleged fake kidnap. The APC's Director of Information and Strategies, Mongaji Kola Olabisi, stated that the party was being unfairly blamed for the incident. Olabisi claimed that Babatunde's arrest was a result of police apprehending him in his hideout, where he allegedly confessed to the crime.
Spokesperson to Governor Adeleke, Olawale Rasheed, has denied allegations that top officials in the administration were working to pressure the police into dropping the matter. Rasheed stated that the police were investigating the incident without any interference from the state government. He also debunked rumors that the Chief of Staff, Kazeem Akinleye, and other top government officials were trying to prevent the police from investigating the case.
According to Rasheed, the state government had immediately reported the incident to the police under the instruction of the Chief of Staff. The Anti-Kidnapping Squad of Osun State Police Command was activated, demonstrating transparency and a commitment to law enforcement. Rasheed dismissed claims that state officials were attempting to bribe the police to sweep the matter under the carpet, describing such reports as unfounded and baseless.
The APC has alleged that Babatunde's arrest was announced by other officials of the state government through their individual social media handles, with the party being blamed for the imaginary and false kidnap. Olabisi stated that the party would not be intimidated by the government's attempts to implicate them. The APC is calling for a thorough police investigation into the incident.
The police investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to uncover the circumstances surrounding Babatunde's alleged self-kidnapping. While the police have yet to make a public statement on the development, it is understood that Babatunde has been taken into custody. The incident has raised concerns about the lengths to which individuals may go to extort the government.
The incident has also raised questions about the security situation in Osun State and the ease with which individuals can stage kidnappings to achieve their goals. The government has urged the public to remain calm and assured them that the police are working to resolve the matter. The outcome of the investigation is expected to shed more light on the incident and determine the appropriate actions to be taken.
Key points
- The Osun State Police Command is investigating the alleged self-kidnapping of Governor Ademola Adeleke's aide, Shakirulahi Babatunde.
- The APC has accused the Adeleke government of attempting to implicate the party in the alleged fake kidnap.
- The incident has raised concerns about the security situation in Osun State and the ease with which individuals can stage kidnappings to achieve their goals.
