Ondo Police Arrest 14 After Mob Attack on Station Over Farmer’s Killing

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested 14 suspects following an attack on the Ala Divisional Police Headquarters in Akure North Local Government Area, during which two police officers sustained gunshot injuries.

The attack followed the killing of a farmer, identified as Rasheed Hassan, and an attempt by an angry mob to seize two suspects arrested in connection with the incident.

The police said preliminary observations showed deep cuts on the victim’s head and other parts of his body, while his belongings were reportedly missing.

In a statement, the command’s spokesperson, Abayomi Jimoh, said investigations had commenced to identify those responsible for the farmer’s death.

According to Jimoh, the two suspects were arrested by the Ala youth president on October 26 and were being taken to the police division for necessary action when they were confronted by the mob.

He said the youth president sought refuge at the police headquarters with the suspects, but the mob pursued them and attacked the facility with stones and other dangerous objects.

The police spokesperson added that the mob also resisted efforts by rescue teams to access the area.

He said tactical and other rescue teams were deployed to restore order and protect lives.

“The patrol team conveying the suspects back to Akure came under attack. During the incident, two police officers sustained gunshot injuries from pellets allegedly fired from a youth pump-action firearm,” the statement read.

The injured officers were immediately taken to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention.

Following the attack, the police arrested 14 suspects over their alleged involvement in the assault on the police facility, officers and the rescue team.

Jimoh said investigations were ongoing to establish the individual roles of those arrested and ensure that anyone found culpable faced the full weight of the law.

The Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Felix Ohagwu, condemned the attack, describing mob action and attempts to obstruct lawful police operations as unacceptable.

He said no individual or group had the right to take the law into their own hands, regardless of the gravity of an alleged crime.

Ohagwu warned that the command would not tolerate attacks on police facilities, assaults on officers or attempts to undermine lawful police operations.

The command said tactical deployments had been maintained in the area to prevent further violence.

It added that normalcy had returned to the community, although security monitoring was continuing.