OYO CP ORDERS PROBE INTO ALLEGED POLICE MISCONDUCT AS JOBELE RESIDENTS PROTEST INSECURITY
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Femi Haruna, has ordered a thorough investigation into allegations of unprofessional conduct by operatives of the Jobele Police Division in Afijio Local Government Area following a protest by residents on Tuesday.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued in Ibadan by the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Olayinka Ayanlade.
According to the statement, an Assistant Superintendent of Police who led the patrol team involved and the Divisional Police Officer have both been issued queries, while the Inspector allegedly involved has been defaulted and detained pending the outcome of the investigation.
“The Oyo State Police Command has ordered a thorough investigation into the allegation of unprofessional conduct by operatives of the Jobele Division, which reportedly resulted in the protest witnessed earlier today,” the statement read.
“In line with the directive of the Commissioner of Police, the ASP who led the patrol team involved and the Divisional Police Officer have been issued queries respectively, while the Inspector concerned has been defaulted and detained pending the outcome of the investigation.”
The police said the probe had commenced in accordance with established rules and regulations to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and ensure appropriate disciplinary action where necessary.
Earlier on Tuesday, scores of protesters disrupted vehicular and human movement along the Jobele axis of the Ibadan–Oyo Expressway in Afijio Local Government Area, protesting rising cases of kidnapping and other criminal activities in the area.
Residents said the protest was triggered by a recent attack by suspected kidnappers who reportedly attempted to abduct a woman in the community.
According to the protesters, the victim narrowly escaped by scaling a fence but sustained a deep machete cut on one of her hands during the attack.
“Yesterday, suspected kidnappers invaded one of our communities in an attempt to abduct a lady. She narrowly escaped by climbing a fence, but she suffered a deep machete cut on her hand,” one of the protesters said.
They added that the attack was not the first such incident in the area, insisting they would not leave the road until security agencies guaranteed the safety of residents.
Meanwhile, a community leader from Ward 8, Dolapo Awotunde, alleged that the local government had recorded at least seven kidnapping-related incidents in recent times.
Awotunde said the latest attack occurred between Saturday night and Sunday morning, leaving a victim severely injured.
The victim was initially taken to a general hospital before being referred to Ogbomoso for advanced treatment, where one of his hands was eventually amputated due to the severity of the injuries.
He further stated that residents organised a night vigil following the incident and later apprehended a suspicious individual around 1:00 a.m., allegedly found with a gun, a cutlass and other dangerous weapons.
The suspect, he said, was handed over to the police at the Jobele Police Station for investigation.
However, community members claimed they were shocked to discover that the suspect had been released when they visited the station the following morning.
The alleged release sparked outrage among residents, including students, who subsequently blocked the Old Oyo–Ibadan Road and the Ibadan–Oyo–Ogbomoso highway to demand an explanation from authorities.
Residents have called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Oyo State Government and other relevant security agencies to urgently address the growing insecurity in Afijio Local Government Area.
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