Ondo Regent abducted

The royal crisis in Akungba-Akoko, Akoko South-West Local Government, Ondo State deepened on Tuesday with the abduction of the Regent of the town, Princess Oluwatoyin Omosowon.
The crisis started after the demise of Oba Adekanye Omosowon in 2004. Efforts to instal a new monarch have been frustrated by litigation instituted by contestants to the stool.
Princess Omosowon is the third Regent since Adekanye’s death. Her predecessors (sisters) were removed over allegation of insubordination to traditional institution and royal family.
She was kidnapped on her way from Akure, the state capital where she had gone to attend the 69th inaugural lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA).
It was delivered by the Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Prof Igbekele Ajibefun.
The abduction led to series of protests in the ancient town on Wednesday. Shops, motor parks, schools and banks were closed.
Hundreds of motorcyclists blocked major roads in the university town and it took the intervention of the state Police Commissioner, Isaac Eke, to restore law and order.
He assured the protesters that the Regent would be rescued.
Freedom Online learned that she was kidnapped about 10 kilometres to Akungba-Akoko by some youths. A source said the youths may have been divided into two, some following her from Akure and the others blocking the road when they were given the signal, probably through phone contacts.
The Regent, her driver and two others in the Toyota Avensis car were whisked away.
Eke, who later had a meeting with chiefs at the palace of Alale of Akungba, said no efforts would be spared to rescue the regent. Other heads of security agencies in the South-West state attended the meeting.