Kidnapper killed while attempting to abduct wife of Ondo State Monarch

A man believed to be a kidnapper has been shot dead following an attempt to kidnap Grace Faduyile, the wife of the traditional ruler of Ikoya in Okitipupa, Oba Gabriel Babatunde Faduyile, on Sunday. There are two versions to how the Olori was rescued. One version says:
The deceased and his gang members had initially succeeded in kidnapping Grace Faduyile and were making their escape before the police got wind of the crime and gave chase.
During the chase, the kidnappers panicked and ran into the bush, abandoning their victim, but the security operatives gave chase which resulted in a shootout, leading to the death of one of the kidnappers while the others escaped.

 The Ondo State Police Command Spokesman, Femi Joseph, confirmed the incident, saying;

“Immediately the command received the information about the monarch’s wife’s abduction, a team of policemen went after the kidnappers in conjunction with the local hunters."

He also revealed Grace was unhurt and efforts are being made to catch up with the rest of the gang who got away.

The other version says:
Oba Faduyile was at an event to mark the Armed Forces Remembrance Day at Okitipupa when he got wind of the attempted abduction of his wife and immediately gave an order for a rescue mission.

"The Olori (Queen) was heading home after the church service when the kidnappers waylaid and seized her in the presence of her friend who drove the vehicle conveying her into the palace on Sunday," the source disclosed.

"Immediately after the incident happened, people around raised an alarm and a search party was quickly formed by the local hunters (vigilante group) while a trap was set across the border line of the river. Just like a Nollywood movie, it was a serious gun battle between the brave local hunters and the kidnappers. Even some frightened parents had to rush down and retrieve their children playing at the bank of the river,"

The kidnappers were later overpowered by the combined effort of the local hunters at the bank of the river while they were trying to exit the community with a canoe. One of the fleeing kidnappers was gunned down before he could cross the river.

"They (local hunters) killed one and nabbed another member of the kidnap gang before he was handed over to the security agencies in the local community for further investigation," the source added.

The arrested suspect is currently in police custody for interrogation.