"I Escaped Abduction Attempt by Men with APC-Branded Caps" — Gov Adeleke's Aide Recounts Ordeal

 

By Abdulahi Musa

 Hon. Adekunle Akinrinade, the Senior Special Assistant to Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on Youth Parliament, has recounted how he allegedly escaped an attempted abduction after being attacked by four men, some of whom he claimed were wearing APC-branded caps, in Osogbo on Thursday evening.

The governor's aide alleged that the incident occurred at about 6:40 p.m. near the MRS filling station, a few metres from the Ilerioluwa Campaign Office in the Ogooluwa area of the Osun State capital.

According to Akinrinade, he was with Hon. Alaba Samuel Oluwagbotemi when one of the suspects arrived on a motorcycle and allegedly launched an attack on him without provocation.

He claimed the assailant pulled out a dagger and attempted to stab him before three other men, who had arrived in a waiting vehicle, allegedly instructed him to stop attacking him in public and instead force him into the car.

"They wanted to bundle me into the vehicle and take me away from the public scene," Akinrinade alleged.

In what he described as a desperate bid to avoid being identified, Akinrinade alleged that the suspects instructed the man carrying the dagger to remove his APC-branded cap after passers-by began gathering at the scene.

Sensing an opportunity, he said he broke free and ran into a nearby mechanic workshop, hoping to find safety.

His escape, however, was short-lived.

Akinrinade alleged that the men chased him into the workshop, overpowered him and continued assaulting him with different objects while making another attempt to drag him into their vehicle.

The situation, he said, changed only after mechanics and other residents at the workshop confronted the alleged attackers and prevented them from taking him away.

"They eventually fled when the crowd became too large," he said.

The governor's aide said the attack left him with bruises on his head, ears and arm and that he is currently receiving medical treatment.

"I thank God I was able to run to seek help. I do not know those guys from Adam, and I do not know where they intended to take me. There was nothing on me to show that I belonged to the Accord Party. It is obvious to me that they must have been trailing me before the incident," he alleged.

He expressed appreciation to residents who intervened during the attack and to those who had reached out with prayers, phone calls and messages of support.

The alleged attack comes amid heightened political tension in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election, with political stakeholders repeatedly exchanging accusations over violence and intimidation.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Nigeria Police Force nor the APC had publicly responded to Akinrinade's allegations.