Father of the five-day-old male child kidnapped on April 11 at Ijagbe community, Kogi State, Tosin Ojuola, has been banished from the community.
Mr Ojuola told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on phone Thursday that he was handed the order to leave on May 7.
“My parents, my wife and I, were all summoned to the meeting. At the meeting, the monarch told me that the community leaders said that the village oracle (Ifa deity) revealed that I had a hand in the abduction of my own baby.
“Thereafter, they gave me and my wife a 10-hour ultimatum from 7am to 5pm on May 7, to leave the community and warned us not to come back until our abducted baby is found,” he said.
Ojuola had been arrested and detained by the police alongside his landlord and a co-tenant over the incident.
He said he and his wife left the village at noon that day with their two year-old daughter, adding that their four other children were left behind with their aged parents.
Traditional ruler of Ijagbe community in Mopa-Muro LGA, Amushin Adeleye, confirmed the banishment through his son, Prince Segun Adeleye.
“The boy in question by his action admitted his involvement in the abduction of his baby but he did not admit by words or verbally,” he alleged.
Administrator of Mopamuro LGA, Sunday Alumo, said he was shocked at the banishment.
“I would have stopped that action if I was informed,” he said.
Kogi Police spokesperson, William Aya, described the banishment as unfortunate and that it was capable of obstructing investigation.
