The Oyo State Police Command has warned residents against taking the law into their own hands, condemning acts of jungle justice following a mob action that triggered a public disturbance in the Strabag area of Ojoo, Ibadan.

 

The command, however, said normalcy had been restored to the area after a coordinated security operation involving the police, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun.

 

In a statement issued on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, the command disclosed that four suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident and transferred to the ,State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Iyaganku, for further investigation.

 

According to the police, preliminary findings revealed that at about 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, four young men arrived at a Point of Sale (POS) outlet in the Strabag area in a commercial tricycle to purchase mobile data. During the transaction, they allegedly attempted to dispossess the operator of his mobile phone.

 

The victim reportedly raised an alarm, attracting members of the public, who apprehended one of the suspects, identified as Abeeb Olajide, while the other three escaped.

 

The suspect was allegedly beaten by the mob before he was rescued by the police and taken to hospital, where he was later confirmed dead while receiving treatment.

 

The command said the incident sparked tension in the community, as aggrieved groups mobilised for reprisals, resulting in a breakdown of law and order in parts of the area.

 

Following a directive by the Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, tactical and operational teams were deployed to the affected community, with reinforcement from other security agencies, restoring normalcy and preventing further escalation.

 

The police also confirmed that another resident, identified as Kamorudeen Abdulrasheed, died from injuries allegedly sustained during the unrest, adding that investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding his death.

 

The disturbance also led to the burning of six makeshift shops containing condemned plastic materials before personnel of the Oyo State Fire Service brought the fire under control.

 

The command condemned jungle justice in strong terms, urging residents to hand over suspects to the police rather than resort to self-help.

 

“While acknowledging the right of citizens to report crimes and assist law enforcement, suspects should always be handed over to the police for lawful investigation and prosecution,” the statement said.

 

The police also appealed to community leaders, youth groups and other stakeholders not to allow criminal elements to exploit the incident to foment ethnic or communal unrest, assuring residents that adequate security had been deployed to the area and other strategic locations across the Ibadan metropolis.

 

The command reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property, assuring that all those found culpable in connection with the incident would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.