The Osun State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of 18 suspects in connection with the recent attack on police officers deployed to manage the lingering communal crisis between and Ilobu and Erin-Osun communities.
In a statement issued by the Command’s spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi , authorities disclosed that 14 additional suspects were apprehended through intelligence-led operations, bringing the total number of arrests to 18. The suspects, who had reportedly gone into hiding after the attack, were tracked and arrested on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan.
The police also confirmed the recovery of weapons linked to the incident, including a single-barrel gun, a live cartridge, and a cutlass. The suspects are currently in custody as investigations continue, with authorities assuring that all those involved will be prosecuted in accordance with the law while respecting their fundamental human rights.
The arrests follow a fresh outbreak of violence in the affected communities, where hoodlums allegedly attacked police officers who were responding to intelligence reports of a possible clash over a long-standing boundary dispute. The situation escalated when officers deployed to maintain peace came under attack while attending to a distress call in Ilobu.
According to the police, although the operatives initially dispersed the violent group, some youths later regrouped and launched another assault on the officers. One officer was reportedly dragged to the palace of the Olobu, where he was subjected to inhumane treatment before being rescued.
Condemning the attack, Commissioner Gotan has ordered the immediate deployment of an intervention team to restore calm and prevent further breakdown of law and order. The Command warned that additional suspects already identified will soon be arrested and prosecuted.
The police further urged residents of both communities to remain law-abiding and support security agencies with timely information, stressing that any attack on law enforcement personnel will attract the full weight of the law.