A commercial motorcyclist in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, was brutally attacked by an angry mob after a young woman allegedly raised a false alarm that he was attempting to kidnap her.

Information gathered by Daily Trust revealed that the incident occurred on Wednesday, June 4, when the woman, identified as Miss Abigael Bright, reportedly accused a motorcycle rider of attempting to kidnap her while conveying her within the Ore metropolis.

The allegation triggered panic among residents and passersby, who descended on the rider and subjected him to severe beating.

Witnesses said the situation worsened after the claim spread across social media platforms, particularly WhatsApp, where the woman allegedly shared the accusation on her status, fueling fears of kidnapping activities in the area.

The victim reportedly sustained injuries to his face and other parts of his body before police officers intervened and rescued him from the mob.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Ondo State Command, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said preliminary investigations had revealed that the kidnapping allegation was unfounded.

He disclosed that the suspect had been taken into custody and was assisting investigators, while the injured motorcyclist had received medical attention.

“The Command has commenced a full investigation into the matter. Preliminary findings indicate that the allegation was false.

“The suspect is in custody and appropriate legal action will be taken at the conclusion of investigations,” he said.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, expressed concern over the increasing spread of false alarms and unverified information capable of causing public disorder.

He warned that false kidnapping accusations could have grave consequences, including mob violence, loss of innocent lives and the breakdown of law and order.

The police commissioner also condemned the jungle justice meted out to the motorcyclist, stressing that no individual has the right to take the law into their own hands regardless of the nature of an allegation.

He urged residents to report suspicious activities to security agencies for proper investigation and to refrain from circulating unverified information on social media. (Weekend Trust)