The "weaker vessel" tag on women could not restrain a woman in Offa from joining the inglorious business of kidnapping.

Luck ran out of a middle-aged woman who was accused of involvement in the kidnapping of schoolchildren in Offa and surrounding communities in Kwara State, when she was caught right in the act. Angry youths descended on her, and almost lynched her to death but for the intervention of some elders in the community. After her rescue, the suspect was handed over to the Olofa of Ofa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi, who subsequently handed her over to the police for further interrogation.

The incident, THISDAY gathered, happened Monday at Isale Ago area of Owode Market in Offa when the middle-aged woman was discovered to have kidnapped a pupil.

Excited about having caught somebody in connection with the frequent cases of kidnapping of schoolchildren, the Offa youths almost went wild in their determination to kill the woman.

It was also learnt that the woman confessed to the people that she is from Ede but she was based in Ilesa, Osun State, with other members of the syndicate. According to her, they sell their victims to those who need them for ritual purposes.

Palace sources also told reporters yesterday that the kidnap suspect was later handed over to the police Area Command in Omu Aran to take over the matter in view of the presence of protesters that had invaded the palace.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, Olufemi Fabode, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said he was yet to be briefed of the development, adding that the matter was yet to get to the command's headquarters in Ilorin.