Ogun communities groan as extrajudicial killings, brutality persist
Police Checkpoints Ignite Fear and Tensions in Ogun State
For many residents, police checkpoints evoke anxiety rather than a sense of security. What is designed to be routine safety enforcement has deteriorated into an environment where minor disputes or routine inquiries often escalate into violence, sometimes resulting in fatal encounters.
Reports from the DAILY POST indicate that despite decades of calls for police reform, incidents of aggression against citizens persist. Young individuals face profiling based on appearance, while local traders endure extortion at gunpoint, and peaceful residents are subjected to violence from those sworn to protect them.
The latest incident occurred on August 19, 2026, when 32-year-old Owolabi Oniyiku, a tiler and father of one, was shot and killed by a police officer along the Ifonyintedo–Akinde Road in the Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State. Oniyiku had returned to his hometown to celebrate the traditional Oro festival, unaware that it would be his last.
According to reports, one officer from the Idiroko Border Patrol Team fired the shot that struck Oniyiku in the chest, resulting in his instantaneous death and igniting widespread protests in the community. A viral video circulating on social media showed youths in the area expressing their outrage over the incident.
Police spokesperson DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi confirmed the shooting and stated that the officers involved have been arrested. “The Command is aware of the case and is investigating diligently,” Babaseyi said.
This incident follows a pattern of violence involving police officers in Ogun State. In March, the Students’ Union Government of Olabisi Onabanjo University accused police officers of assaulting student leaders and firing upon unarmed students during a confrontation at the Oru-Ijebu Police Station. The police, however, denied these allegations, asserting that the situation escalated due to the students’ agitation.
In July 2024, another shooting involved a betting agent, Anuoluwapo, who died after being shot by an officer reportedly under the influence of alcohol. Eyewitness accounts claimed officers were chasing a suspect when the fatal shot was fired. No updates have emerged since that investigation.
In December 2024, Azeez Ijaduade, a Nigerian actor and director, was unintentionally shot by a police officer during a company party, raising further concerns over police use of firearms in public spaces.
The cycle of violence continued in February 2020, when Tiyamiyu Kazeem, a young footballer, was killed by a police officer under controversial circumstances.
The recent shooting of Oniyiku highlights the ongoing issue of unauthorized toll-collection and extortion by police along border transit routes. Local residents reported enduring systematic harassment, leading to the torching of a police checkpoint prior to Oniyiku’s death. Witnesses claim Oniyiku was merely pleading with officers to release a friend’s confiscated motorcycle when the argument escalated.
In response to the incident, Oluwatoyin Taiwo, a former Chief of Staff to the Ogun State Governor, condemned the violence and called for accountability among law enforcement. He emphasized that the community’s moral high ground must be maintained to seek justice effectively.
The bereaved family now seeks justice for Oniyiku and has called for the officer responsible to be dismissed. Festus Oniyiku, Owolabi’s brother, expressed his grief, stating his brother was a kind and caring individual, and has felt neglected by authorities in the wake of the incident.
Both the National Youth Council of Nigeria and the youth forum in Ipokia have demanded an independent investigation and accountability for the officers involved. They voiced concerns about the rising pattern of violence linked to police checkpoints and outlined specific demands for ethical policing practices.
Advocates have argued for reforms, including comprehensive psychological evaluations for officers and adherence to protocols that prioritize citizen safety. They point to the lengthy history of police brutality in Nigeria, which was exacerbated during the #EndSARS protests in 2020.
Calls for action include not only the swift prosecution of any officer found guilty of misconduct but also a full review of the recommendations made by the #EndSARS panel—an inquiry that was established to address human rights abuses within the police force.
The incident underscores the pressing need for reform within Nigerian law enforcement, with the public and advocacy groups demanding that police checkpoints serve as sources of security, not fear.
