By Our Reporter
The Ondo State Police Command has rescued two suspects from an angry mob in Ala, Akure North Local Government Area, and arrested 14 people over an attack on a police station and officers.
The incident followed the suspected murder of a farmer, identified as Rasheed Hassan, whose death was reported to the police on October 24, 2026, at General Camp in the Government Reserve area.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi 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. His belongings were also reportedly missing.
The statement said the Ala Youth President arrested two suspects on October 26 and was conveying them to the police station when an angry crowd allegedly demanded that they be handed over for extrajudicial killing.
The youth leader subsequently sought refuge at the Ala Divisional Police Headquarters with the suspects, but the mob reportedly pursued them and attacked the facility, throwing stones and other dangerous objects at the station while resisting police rescue efforts.
According to the police, tactical and rescue teams were deployed, and the two suspects were successfully rescued at about 1:45 a.m. on October 27. However, the patrol team conveying them to Akure came under attack, leaving two police officers with gunshot injuries allegedly caused by pellets fired from a pump-action firearm.
The injured officers were immediately taken to a nearby hospital for medical attention, while 14 suspects were arrested in connection with the attack on the police station, officers and rescue team.
The command said investigations were ongoing to establish the individual roles of those arrested and ensure that anyone found culpable was brought to justice. It added that security deployment had been sustained in the area and normalcy had returned to the community.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu, condemned the attack, warning that the command would not tolerate mob action, assaults on police officers or attempts to obstruct lawful police operations.
He urged residents to remain calm, cooperate with security agencies and provide credible information to assist investigations. He also appealed to community leaders and youth groups to discourage mob violence and allow the criminal justice system to take its course.
Members of the public with relevant information can contact the command on or through its social media platforms and email address.
