OJOO CRISIS:POLICE RESTORE CALM FOLLOWING MOB ACTION AND DISTURBANCE AT STRABAG, OJOO; TWO KILLED,FOUR SUSPECTS ARRESTED

The Oyo State Police Command wishes to inform members of the public that normalcy has been restored to the Strabag area of Ojoo, Ibadan, following an incident involving mob action which subsequently triggered a public disturbance in the early hours of Wednesday, 8 July 2026.

Preliminary investigation revealed that at about 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, four young men arrived at a Point of Sale (POS) outlet in the Strabag area aboard a commercial tricycle to purchase mobile data. 

During the transaction, they allegedly attempted to dispossess the POS operator of his mobile phone. 

The victim immediately raised an alarm, attracting members of the public who apprehended one of the suspects, identified as Abeeb Olajide, while the other three fled the scene.

The apprehended suspect was severely assaulted by the mob before he was rescued and rushed to a nearby medical facility. 

He was subsequently referred to the State Hospital, Moniya, where he was confirmed dead while receiving treatment.

Following the incident, tension escalated within the community as aggrieved groups mobilised for a reprisal attack, resulting in a breakdown of law and order in parts of the Strabag axis.

Upon receipt of the distress report, the Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, psc, mnips, immediately directed the swift deployment of adequate operational and tactical assets to the affected area. 

Owing to the magnitude of the disturbance and the presence of large groups armed with dangerous weapons, the command immediately reinforced the said area with additional personnel’s who were drawn from various formations across the state. 

The Command also worked in close collaboration with the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun). 

Their coordinated response successfully restored normalcy, prevented further escalation, and ensured that no additional lives were lost at the scene of the disturbance.

Regrettably, one person, identified as Kamorudeen Abdulrasheed, was reported to have died at Hospital, from injuries allegedly sustained as a result of the unrest. 

The circumstances surrounding his death are currently under discreet investigation to ascertain the exact cause and circumstances.

The Command also recorded the burning of six makeshift shops containing picked and condemned plastic materials during the unrest. 

Personnel of the Oyo State Fire Service were promptly contacted and responded swiftly to extinguish the fire, thereby preventing its spread to adjoining properties.

Meanwhile, four suspects have so far been arrested in connection with the incident and transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Iyaganku, where a comprehensive investigation has commenced to unravel the circumstances surrounding the attempted robbery, the mob action, the ensuing public disturbance, and all related acts of criminality.

The Command strongly condemns the act of jungle justice and warns members of the public against taking the law into their own hands under any circumstance. 

While acknowledging the right of citizens to report crimes and assist law enforcement, it emphasizes that suspects should always be handed over to the Police for lawful investigation and prosecution.

Residents are further urged to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding, while community leaders, youth groups and other stakeholders are encouraged not to allow criminal elements to exploit the unfortunate incident to foment ethnic or communal unrest. 

The Command assures residents that adequate security measures have been emplaced across the affected area and other strategic locations within the metropolis to forestall any further breakdown of law and order.

The Oyo State Police Command appreciates the cooperation, understanding and support of law-abiding residents throughout the operation and reassures the good people of Oyo State of its unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and property. 

The Command equally assures that all persons found culpable in connection with the incident will be made to face the full weight of the law.

For Emergencies, Contact:

 Oyo State Call Response Center Toll-Free Line: 615. 

 Oyo State Police Command Control Room: 08081768614 & 07055495413.