According to a report by The Nigerian Tribune on July 13, 2025, Dr. Najeem Salaam, former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, shared how a twist of fate involving a palm wine tapper led to the dramatic rescue of his kidnapped wife. The abductors had taken her to a forest along the Abeokuta–Ibadan Expressway, where she spent five days in captivity.
According to him, “But something happened that led to her rescue. In the bush where they kept her around the Abeokuta–Ibadan Expressway axis, there was this particular man, a palm wine tapper who was on the top of the palm tree and heard a strange voice around the place. The man then alerted some vigilantes, thinking they were armed robbers. When vigilantes stormed the place, my wife was on top of her voice that they should please not shoot guns. She was speaking in the Yoruba language. That she was kidnapped.”
Following her cries, the vigilantes moved in quickly, securing her freedom and apprehending some of the suspects. Dr. Salaam noted that the kidnappers had asked for ransom to be delivered to Benin in Edo State, with strict warnings not to involve anyone or be followed, adding that he was under surveillance and could only speak with them when they initiated contact.
He credited her rescue to divine intervention and the efforts of local security operatives. He also thanked everyone who supported his family during the ordeal and urged the government to take urgent and concrete action to tackle the country’s worsening insecurity crisis.
