Police arrest hoodlums, political thugs, robbers in Osun
Osun State Police Arrest Suspected Thugs and Hoodlums
The Osun State Police Command announced the arrest of several suspected hoodlums and political thugs in Osogbo, the state capital.
Police Commissioner Ibrahim Gotan shared details during a press conference on Tuesday at the police headquarters, highlighting the arrests as part of ongoing efforts to maintain law and order.
Gotan, represented by Police Public Relations Officer DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, recalled a protest on Monday, July 20, 2026, involving a faction of the National Union of Road Transport Workers. The protest escalated into clashes after members reported that their vehicles were barred from entering a motor park by a rival faction.
In response to the unrest, officers restored order swiftly but faced another security disturbance later that day in the Oke-Ijetu area of Osogbo. Around 5:30 p.m., police received a distress call regarding armed individuals discharging firearms in the vicinity. Personnel from the Anti-Robbery and Violent Crime Response Unit were dispatched to the scene.
According to Gotan, the suspects, believed to be affiliated with a faction led by a figure named Wakili Alowonle, allegedly shot at the police, resulting in injuries to three officers, who are currently receiving medical treatment.
One suspect, identified as 40-year-old Adedeji Saheed Opeyemi, was arrested during the operation. Opeyemi reportedly confessed that he was summoned to the location by someone named Sibi, who provided him with a pump-action firearm under Alowonle’s direction.
Gotan noted that Opeyemi is currently assisting police with the investigation concerning the apprehension of additional suspects. Recovered items from the scene included six expended cartridges, four vehicles, four motorcycles, military camouflage, and suspected criminal charms.
In a separate incident, police detectives arrested two suspected political thugs—26-year-old Alawode Ridwan and 33-year-old Ajibade Ahmed—after responding to reports of unrest in the Amadia area of Osogbo on July 16.
The commissioner confirmed that all suspects will face charges following the conclusion of investigations.
Furthermore, police arrested three individuals in connection with the theft of a Bajaj motorcycle from a commercial rider in the Osunjela area of Osogbo on July 19. Utilizing intelligence-led policing, officers traced the stolen motorcycle to Modakeke and recovered it approximately two hours after the initial report. The suspects have been identified as 39-year-old Kamarudeen Babatunde, 22-year-old Lekan Usman, and 40-year-old Moses Oyebade, an alleged receiver from Ondo town in Ondo State.
Gotan urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities. “Citizens should provide timely and credible information to the police and stay alert to their surroundings,” he said.
