The Ondo State Police Command has rescued two suspects accused of murdering a farmer from an attempted mob attack in Ala community, Akure North Local Government Area, while 14 people have been arrested in connection with the incident.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Akure on Wednesday.
According to Jimoh, the police received a report on October 24 concerning the death of a farmer, identified as Rasheed Hassan, at General Camp in the Government Reserve Area.
He said officers who visited the scene recovered the farmer’s body, which reportedly had deep cuts on the head and other parts of the body. His personal belongings were also missing.
The police spokesperson explained that the Ala Youth President apprehended two suspects on October 26 and was taking them to the police station when an angry mob intercepted them and attempted to lynch them.
Jimoh said police operatives responded to a distress call at about 1:45 a.m. on October 27 and successfully rescued the suspects from the mob.
However, he disclosed that the patrol team transporting the suspects back to Akure was subsequently attacked.
According to him, two police officers sustained gunshot injuries from pellets allegedly fired by a youth using a pump-action firearm. The injured officers were immediately taken to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
Jimoh confirmed that 14 individuals suspected of participating in the mob attack had been arrested, while investigations continued to uncover the circumstances surrounding the farmer’s death and identify those responsible.
He added that tactical and rescue teams had been deployed to the community to restore order and safeguard residents.
The command said calm had returned to the area, urging members of the public to refrain from taking the law into their own hands and instead hand over suspects to the police for proper investigation and prosecution.
Jimoh assured residents that investigations were ongoing and pledged that anyone found culpable would be brought to justice.
