The Nigerian Police, Oyo State Command, has confirmed the arrest of four suspects and the restoration of normalcy in the Strabag area of Ojoo, Ibadan, following a mob action that escalated into a violent public disturbance.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the command said the crisis began late on Tuesday, 7 July, after four young men allegedly attempted to rob a Point of Sale (POS) operator of his mobile phone while pretending to purchase mobile data.
According to the police, the suspects arrived at the POS outlet aboard a commercial tricycle at about 11:30 p.m. The operator reportedly raised an alarm during the attempted robbery, prompting residents to pursue the suspects.
One of the suspects, identified as Abeeb Olajide, was apprehended by an angry mob while the other three escaped. Police said the suspect was brutally assaulted before officers rescued him and rushed him to a medical facility. He was later referred to the State Hospital, Moniya, where he died while receiving treatment.
The command said the incident sparked tension in the community as aggrieved groups allegedly mobilised for reprisal attacks, leading to a breakdown of law and order in parts of the Strabag axis.
Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, immediately ordered the deployment of operational and tactical teams to the affected area. Due to the scale of the disturbance and the presence of armed groups, additional security personnel were drafted from various formations across the state.
The police also collaborated with the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, to contain the situation.
The coordinated operation, according to the command, restored calm, prevented further escalation, and ensured no additional lives were lost during the disturbance.
However, the police disclosed that another resident, identified as Kamorudeen Abdulrasheed, later died in the hospital from injuries allegedly sustained during the unrest. Authorities said investigations were ongoing to determine the exact circumstances surrounding his death.
The command also reported that six makeshift shops used for storing picked and condemned plastic materials were set ablaze during the violence. Personnel of the Oyo State Fire Service responded promptly and prevented the fire from spreading to nearby properties.
Police said four suspects have so far been arrested and transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Iyaganku, where detectives have commenced a comprehensive investigation into the attempted robbery, the mob action, the subsequent unrest, and other related offences.
The command condemned jungle justice, warning residents against taking the law into their own hands, and urged members of the public to hand over criminal suspects to law enforcement agencies for proper investigation and prosecution.
It also appealed to community leaders, youth groups, and residents to remain calm and not allow criminal elements to exploit the incident to incite ethnic or communal violence.
The police assured residents that adequate security personnel have been deployed to the affected area and other strategic locations across Ibadan, adding that everyone found culpable in connection with the incident would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Packaged by Olanrewaju Agiri
