Osogbo incident: Police deny shooting footballers during arrest operation
Osun State Police Deny Allegations of Unjustified Gunfire During Operation
The Osun State Police Command has dismissed claims that officers shot at residents playing football in the Ogo-Oluwa area of Osogbo during a Sunday operation.
In a statement released by Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan and signed by Police Public Relations Officer DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, the command explained that the operation was a response to a petition submitted to the Inspector-General of Police on May 2, 2026. The petition concerned a viral video depicting suspected members of the AYE Confraternity with firearms and other weapons.
The statement clarified that the petition was forwarded to the Osun State Police for further investigation. Police detectives subsequently initiated a thorough inquiry aimed at identifying and prosecuting those connected to the incident.
According to the police, the operation targeted a suspect identified as Semiu Baruwa, who allegedly participated in vandalizing billboards within the state capital. Officers, acting on intelligence, attempted to apprehend Baruwa at his hideout.
However, the operation faced disruption when some individuals reportedly attempted to obstruct the arrest. Tension escalated at the scene, leading officers to discharge warning shots into the air to disperse the crowd and ensure their safety.
The police maintained that no innocent residents were targeted and asserted that the officers acted according to established operational safety procedures. “The actions of the operatives were in strict compliance with operational safety procedures aimed at protecting lives and ensuring public order,” the statement read.
Baruwa is currently in custody and is cooperating with ongoing investigations. Authorities are also working to apprehend additional suspects linked to the incident and those accused of obstructing police duties.
The Commissioner of Police urged community members to remain calm and support law enforcement by providing credible information.
Eyewitness accounts reported that police operatives arrived at a football field on Baruwa Street early Sunday morning, firing shots into the air. This caused players, spectators, and residents to flee for safety, while some worshippers at nearby churches cut their services short, fearing violence in the area.
A local leader, who requested anonymity, stated, “We didn’t prevent them from doing their job. We just asked why they would arrest a football fan enjoying a game on a Sunday morning. When we did not receive a satisfactory response, we told them they could not take him. That was when the shooting started, and we all had to run for cover.”
