Baale’s abduction linked to stool tussle as kidnappers keep mum

Friends and family members of the Baale of Shangisha in Magodo, Lagos State, Chief Mutiu Ogundare, has linked his abduction on Wednesday to struggle for the stool.

According to eye witnesses, Ogundare was said to been abducted by three gunmen and as of yesterday, are yet to contact his family to demand for ransom.

The witnesses said that the gunmen, who wielded guns, abducted the victim along Centre for Management Development (CMD) Road, Ikosi –Isheri Local Council Development Area.

When our correspondent visited the Baale’s home yesterday, sympathizers were seen commiserating with his wife and the children. It was also noticed that some shop owners locked up their shop in protest of the man’s abduction.

The Chairman Community Development Association (CDA) in the area, who didn’t want his name mentioned, said: “The abduction of the Baale came to us a shock. We’re also suspicious because the Baale had been having a legal tussle over the ‘kingship’ in the community with another man. I believe he was abducted, so as not to appear in court. His rival believes he would win the case if the Baale didn’t appear in court. I don’t believe that he was abducted because of land issue as reported by some newspapers today. There is much to his abduction. We pray to God that he should be released.”

The CDA chairman added: “We have reported the incident to the Department of State Security Service (DSS) and Zone II, Onikan Police Command, Lagos. The Baale is a gentleman.”

Another resident, who gave her name simply as Rashidat, said: “There was a time one of the boys of Baale’s rival threatened to deal with him and his family members. The Baale didn’t take him serious.”

She continued: “We are also looking in that direction; we have told the police everything that transpired between him and his rival. I’m appealing to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to come to our aid and rescue him unhurt.”

When our correspondent met with the Baale’s wife, she refused to comment on her husband’s abduction.

The Baale was abducted after he received a phone from some alleged developers. The said developers had indicated interest in a landed property within the Baale’s domain.

The callers allegedly directed him on where to meet them, leading to Ogundare driving to the venue with one his brothers.

It was gathered that on immediately Ogundare arrived at the location, three men, posing as the developers, appealed to him and his brother to join them in their White Toyota Venza so that they could go and check out the land.

A few minutes after driving off, one of the men pulled out a gun, making the Baale’s brother to start screaming. The men angrily pushed the screaming out of the car and zoomed off with the Baale. It would be later discovered that the suspects’ car had no registration number.

The Lagos State Command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole did not respond to calls and text message sent to him in order to find out the efforts of police towards rescuing the Baale.