Lagos residents foil abduction of Gbolahan Ogundeji, hand suspect to police

Residents of the Iju area of Lagos foiled an abduction attempt after a man identified as Mr. Gbolahan Ogundeji was assaulted and forced into a vehicle by three suspected attackers.

One of the suspects, identified as Kaka, was apprehended by members of the public and handed over to the police, while two others reportedly escaped from the scene.

According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred near the residence of Ogundeji’s sister.

Residents noted that the attackers assaulted the victim before forcing him into a vehicle and attempting to flee.

However, the operation was disrupted when the vehicle developed a mechanical fault shortly after leaving the area.

Witnesses said cries believed to be coming from inside the vehicle attracted the attention of nearby residents, who immediately gathered at the scene.

The intervention by members of the public reportedly forced two of the suspects to abandon the vehicle and flee, while one suspect was apprehended and handed over to the nearest police station for questioning.

Sources familiar with the incident said Ogundeji was later taken to a hospital for medical treatment after providing a statement to the police.

The motive behind the alleged attack remains unclear.

However, sources claimed that the incident could be linked to an earlier whistleblowing report made by Ogundeji’s brother-in-law, a public official whose identity and current whereabouts have not been disclosed for security reasons.

The sources further noted that the suspects may have been hired to target the whistleblower over information reportedly passed to political rivals in a bid to damage the reputation of a politician contesting for a seat in the House of Representatives.

The allegations have not been independently verified, and no publicly available evidence has been presented to substantiate the claims.

At the time of filing this report, the whistleblower could not be reached for comments, while police authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the circumstances surrounding the incident or any possible motives behind the alleged attack.

Investigations are said to be ongoing.

The development has renewed concerns about the safety and protection of whistleblowers and their family members, particularly in matters involving allegations of corruption and politically sensitive issues.