The Ondo State Police Command has offered clarification on an incident that occurred on Saturday morning between officers of the Nigeria Police Force and operatives of the Amotekun Corps in the Ijoka area of Akure.
In a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka Olushola, the command said the misunderstanding arose after police officers responded to a report of a theft at a church near Sunday Bus Stop around 8:00 a.m. on May 4.
According to the police, officers from the Ijoka Divisional Headquarters were the first to arrive at the scene to recover the suspect and retrieve stolen items. However, while executing their duties, Amotekun operatives reportedly arrived with a large group of commercial motorcyclists and forcefully took the suspect and the recovered items, injuring one police officer in the process.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi, swiftly ordered tactical teams to intervene. After a dialogue between both security outfits, the suspect and the exhibits were returned to the police as part of an inter-agency resolution effort.
The statement further noted that during the resolution process, some Amotekun personnel, dissatisfied with the release of the suspect, allegedly fired shots into the air. The police responded with tear gas to disperse the crowd, but emphasized that no gunfire was exchanged between the two security agencies.
The police command reiterated its commitment to collaboration with other security bodies in the state and urged all operatives to adhere strictly to legal and professional standards in the discharge of their duties.
The command also assured residents of Ondo State that it remains dedicated to upholding law, order, and public safety.
