The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, explaining that the violence erupted after some residents attempted to take the law into their own hands.
The farmer, identified as Rasheed Hassan, was reportedly murdered at General Camp in the Government Reserve area. Police said the incident was reported on October 24, after which operatives visited the scene and recovered his body.
Preliminary observations revealed deep cuts on the victim’s head and other parts of his body, while his belongings were reportedly missing. The police said an investigation was immediately launched to identify and apprehend those responsible.
According to the statement, the Ala Youth President, Ayodele Fabunmi, arrested two suspects in connection with the killing on October 26 and was taking them to the police station when an angry mob confronted him, demanding that the suspects be handed over for jungle justice.
Fabunmi subsequently sought refuge at the Ala Divisional Police Headquarters with the suspects. However, the mob pursued them and attacked the police facility.
“The Ondo State Police Command has condemned a violent mob attack in Ala, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, following an attempt by an angry crowd to take the law into its own hands over the suspected murder of a farmer,” the statement read.
The police said the mob became increasingly violent, throwing stones and other dangerous objects at the station while resisting efforts by rescue teams to access the area.
In response, tactical and other rescue teams were deployed to restore order and protect lives. At about 1:45 a.m. on October 27, police operatives successfully rescued the two suspects from the mob.
However, the patrol team conveying the suspects back to Akure came under attack, leaving two police officers with gunshot injuries reportedly caused by pellets fired from a youth pump-action firearm.
The injured officers were immediately taken to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
Following the incident, police operatives arrested 14 suspects over the assault on officers and the attacks on the police station and rescue team.
The command said investigations were ongoing to establish the individual roles of those arrested and ensure that anyone found culpable faced the law.
It added that tactical personnel had been deployed to the area to prevent further violence, noting that normalcy had returned to the community while security monitoring continued.
The Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, CP Felix Ohagwu, condemned the attack on officers and the police facility, describing mob action and attempts to obstruct lawful police operations as unacceptable.
He reiterated that no individual or group had the right to take the law into their own hands, regardless of the seriousness of an alleged crime.
Ohagwu warned that the command would not tolerate attacks on police facilities, assaults on officers or any attempt to undermine lawful police operations.
He also assured residents that the circumstances surrounding Hassan’s death and the subsequent violence were being thoroughly investigated.
