Police, youth clash in Ondo community over farmer’s murder

The gruesome murder of a farmer in Ala community, in Akure North Local Government Area, Ondo State has degenerated into a violent clash between a group of youth in the area and police operatives who attempted to prevent them from taking the law into their own hands.

It was gathered that the youth attempted to lynch the murder suspects, but were prevented by the police, resulting in a mob reaction from the youth.

A farmer, Rasheed Hassan, was killed on his farm last week by the suspects, who also robbed him of his belongings.

Trouble, however, broke out when some youth leaders arrested suspected culprits and handed them over to the police.

Reports say the angry youth of the town attacked the police station where the suspects were held in custody in an attempt to get them executed extrajudicially. The result was a clash with police operatives who resisted their efforts.

Residents say the situation created tensions in the community since Monday, with police reinforcement pouring into the area and effecting several arrests.

The Ondo State Police Command, which confirmed the development, condemned the mob attack.

Police spokesperson, Jimoh Abayomi, said the ensuing melee followed an attempt by an angry crowd to take the law into its own hands over the suspected murder of a farmer.

“The incident followed the killing of one Rasheed Hassan, a farmer, whose death was reported to the police on October 24, 2026, from General Camp in the Government Reserve area. Upon receiving the report, police operatives visited the scene and recovered the victim’s body,” Mr Abayomi said in a statement on Wednesday.

“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.”

He, however, said the chaos occurred when the Ala Youth President, popularly called Olori Odo, reportedly arrested two suspects on 26 October.

“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,” Mr Abayomi said.

“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.”

He said the mob reportedly became increasingly violent, throwing stones and other dangerous objects at the station while resisting efforts by police rescue teams to gain access to the area.

“In response to the escalating violence, tactical and other rescue teams were deployed to restore order and protect lives. At about 0145 hours on October 27, 2026, police operatives successfully rescued the two suspects from the mob,” he said.

“However, the patrol team conveying the suspects back to Akure came under attack. 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, operatives of the Command arrested fourteen (14) suspects in connection with the assault on police officers and the attack on the police facility and rescue team. 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 Command has maintained tactical deployment in the area to prevent any further breakdown of law and order. Normalcy has since returned to the community, while security monitoring continues.”

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

He said 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.

The Commissioner of Police further assured residents that the circumstances surrounding the farmer’s death and the violence that followed were being thoroughly investigated. He emphasised that all those found culpable would be dealt with in accordance with the law.

He urged members of the public to remain calm, cooperate with security agencies and provide credible information that could assist the ongoing investigations.

He 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.