A traditional ruler in a Lagos State community has been whisked away to the unknown by some men, causing quite a stir in the area.
Men of the Nigeria Police Force
Chief Mutiu Ogundare, the Baale of Shangisha in Magodo, Lagos Mainland, was on Wednesday abducted by three men along Center for Management Development (CMD) Road, Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
According to The Nation, Ogundare was said to have received a telephone from supposed developers, who had indicated interest in a landed property within his domain.
The callers were said to have told the Baale where to meet them, prompting Ogundare to drive to the address with one of his brothers.
On arriving the location, the three men, it was gathered, appealed to the Baale and his brother to join them in their White Toyota Venza vehicle so that they could go check out the land.
But on their way, it was gathered that the Baale’s brother noticed that one of the men had a gun on him and he raised alarm.
It was learnt that the suspected kidnappers pushed him out of the vehicle and sped off with the Baale.
Ogundare’s brother, it was gathered, went to the police station and reported the kidnap.
Contacted, the command’s spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) said it was not a kidnap.
He said there has been protracted dispute between Ogundare, one Shittu Lawal and another person.
According to Famous-Cole, it was a case of rivalry between two Baales, adding that investigation had commenced.
He said: “The White Venza had no registration number. They drove to CMD Guest House to meet the people who called that they wanted to check a land. It was there that they joined the suspect’s vehicle on appeal so that they could take them to the land. I cannot say if the Baale has regained freedom unless I receive additional information from the men in the field.”