Tension erupted in Ala, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, after an angry mob attacked a police station following the killing of a local farmer, Rasheed Hassan, leaving two police officers with gunshot injuries.
The Ondo State Police Command confirmed that 14 suspects had been arrested in connection with the attack on the police facility, officers and a rescue team.
According to the police, the incident began after two suspects allegedly linked to Hassan’s death were arrested on October 26, 2026, and taken to the Ala Divisional Police Headquarters.
The suspects were reportedly intercepted by an angry crowd demanding that they be handed over for extrajudicial punishment. The Ala Youth President, who had reportedly arrested the suspects, sought refuge at the police station with them.
However, the mob allegedly pursued them to the station, throwing stones and other dangerous objects at the facility while resisting police efforts to restore order.
The police said tactical and rescue teams were subsequently deployed to the area. At about 1:45 a.m. on Tuesday, officers reportedly rescued the two suspects from the mob.
However, the patrol team transporting the suspects to Akure came under attack, resulting in gunshot injuries to two police officers. The injuries were allegedly caused by pellets fired from a pump-action firearm.
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The injured officers were immediately taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
Reacting to the incident, the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, condemned the attack, describing mob action and attempts to obstruct lawful police operations as unacceptable.
The police command reiterated that no individual or group has the right to take the law into their own hands, regardless of the seriousness of an alleged crime.
It warned that attacks on police facilities, assaults on officers and interference with lawful operations would not be tolerated.
The command also confirmed that investigations were ongoing to establish the individual roles of those arrested and ensure that anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law.
Meanwhile, security personnel have maintained a presence in the area to prevent further violence. The police said normalcy had returned to the community, although security monitoring remained ongoing.
Residents were urged to remain calm, cooperate with security agencies and provide credible information that could assist investigations into the farmer’s death and the subsequent violence.
The police also appealed to community leaders and youth groups to discourage mob action and allow the criminal justice system to take its course.
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