The Ondo State Police Command has taken two individuals into custody over the tragic killing of farmer Rasheed Hassan in the Ala area of Akure North Local Government Area, successfully shielding them from a violent crowd attempting extrajudicial justice.
The police also arrested 14 persons over an attack on the Ala Divisional Police Headquarters and officers who intervened to rescue the suspects.
The Command’s spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this during a press briefing on Wednesday, adding that two police officers sustained gunshot injuries during the incident.
Hassan was reportedly murdered at General Camp in the Government Reserve area, with the incident reported to the police on October 24, 2026.
Jimoh said police operatives, who visited the scene, recovered the victim’s body with deep cuts on his head and other parts of his body, while his belongings were reportedly missing.
He said investigations commenced immediately to identify and apprehend those responsible for the killing.
According to him, the Ala Youth President arrested the two suspects on October 26 and conveyed them to the police station, when an angry crowd confronted him, demanding that the suspects be handed over for extrajudicial killing.
The youth president subsequently sought refuge at the Ala Divisional Police Headquarters with the suspects, but the mob pursued them and attacked the facility, throwing stones and other dangerous objects at the station.
Jimoh said tactical and rescue teams were deployed to the area and successfully rescued the suspects at about 1:45 a.m. on October 27.
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 pump-action firearm.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu, condemned the incident, warning against attempts to take the law into one’s hands or obstruct lawful police operations.
He assured residents that anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law and urged community leaders and youth groups to discourage mob action and allow the criminal justice system to take its course.
What You Should Know
This incident highlights rising tensions and the dangerous trend of mob justice in local communities. When residents take the law into their own hands rather than letting formal investigations proceed, it puts public safety at risk and leads to attacks on critical security infrastructure.
- Potential Concerns: Mob actions endanger innocent lives, disrupt public peace, and can result in injuries to law enforcement officers who are only trying to maintain order and conduct lawful investigations.
- Positive Takeaway: Prompt intervention by police tactical teams helped prevent a total breakdown of law and order, ensuring that the suspects remain in custody to face proper legal prosecution.
