Farmer’s killing: Ondo mob attacks police station, injures two officers

Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu.

Two police officers have sustained gunshot injuries after an angry mob attacked a police station in Ala, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, following the killing of a farmer, Rasheed Hassan.

The command disclosed that 14 suspects had been arrested in connection with the attack.

The incident occurred after two suspects arrested in connection with Hassan’s death were taken to the Ala Divisional Police Headquarters, where the mob reportedly attempted to seize them for extrajudicial killing.

The Ondo State Police Command disclosed this in a statement by its Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, on Thursday, condemning the attack on the police facility and officers.

The statement read, “Preliminary observations revealed deep cuts to the victim’s head and other parts of his body, while his belongings were reportedly missing.

“Investigations immediately commenced to identify and apprehend those responsible for the killing.

“In connection with the incident, the Ala Youth President reportedly arrested two suspects on October 26, 2026.

“While conveying the suspects to the police station for necessary action, he was confronted by an angry mob demanding that the suspects be handed over for extrajudicial killing.

“He subsequently sought refuge at the Ala Divisional Police Headquarters with the suspects.

“However, the mob pursued them and launched an attack on the police facility.”

The statement said the mob threw stones and other dangerous objects at the station while resisting efforts by police rescue teams to gain access to the area.

In response, tactical and other rescue teams were deployed to restore order and protect lives.

The command explained that at about 1:45am on Tuesday, police operatives rescued the two suspects from the mob.

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However, the patrol team conveying the suspects to Akure came under attack, leaving two police officers with gunshot injuries allegedly caused by pellets fired from a youth pump-action firearm.

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

“During the incident, two police officers sustained gunshot injuries from pellets allegedly fired from a youth pump-action firearm.

“The injured officers were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention.”

Following the attack, the police said 14 suspects were arrested in connection with the assault on police officers and the attack on the police facility and rescue team.

“The investigations are ongoing to establish the individual roles of those arrested and ensure that anyone found culpable faces the full weight of the law,” the statement added.

Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, condemned the attack on the officers and the police facility, describing mob action and attempts to obstruct lawful police operations as unacceptable.

He reiterated that “no individual or group has the right to take the law into their own hands, regardless of the gravity of any alleged crime.”

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

Ohagwu assured residents that the circumstances surrounding the farmer’s death and the violence that followed were being thoroughly investigated, emphasising that all those found culpable would be dealt with in accordance with the law.

The command said it had maintained tactical deployment in the area to prevent further breakdown of law and order, adding that normalcy had returned to the community while security monitoring continued.

It urged residents to remain calm, cooperate with security agencies and provide credible information to assist the ongoing investigations.

The command also appealed to community leaders and youth groups to discourage mob action and encourage residents to allow the criminal justice system to take its course.