Angry Mob Brutalises Senior Police Officer, Forces Him To Kneel, Apologise For Alleged Teargas Shooting
Residents of Ilobu community in the Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State have brutalised a police constable, forcing him to kneel inside a palace.
This is after the mob accused him of firing teargas at locals amid an escalating land dispute with neighbouring Erin-Osun community
It was gathered that the incident occurred during a confrontation over a long-standing boundary and land ownership crisis between Ilobu and Erin-Osun communities.
However, tensions heightened after some residents of Ilobu reportedly occupied the disputed land, prompting aggrieved members of Erin-Osun to report the matter at a nearby police station.
Police operatives were subsequently deployed to the area to restore order and effect arrests.
However, upon arrival at the scene, residents of Ilobu allegedly resisted arrest, leading to a breakdown of law and order. It was during the ensuing chaos that the police constable discharged teargas in an attempt to disperse the crowd.
Eyewitnesses said the action further inflamed tensions, with some residents accusing the officer of targeting Ilobu indigenes while sparing those from Erin-Osun.
In a video, the visibly distressed officer was seen with injuries to his head and face, while blood stains were noticeable on his hand and head, indicating he had been severely beaten by the mob.
The footage showed the officer being surrounded by angry residents who interrogated him over his actions.
He was repeatedly questioned on why he fired the teargas and whether he had been sent specifically to attack members of the Ilobu community.
At a point, the officer was forced to kneel in what appeared to be a palace courtyard, where he was subjected to further questioning under duress.
Responding to the accusations, the injured officer said: “It was a mistake that I pulled the teargas. I don’t have it in mind to injure anyone.”
When pressed further on why he allegedly targeted Ilobu residents instead of those from Erin-Osun, the constable explained that he acted based on directives from his superior.
“I was following the instructions of our DPO and he didn’t say we should shoot anyone. However, when I tried to explain to the people, I thought if they see me in police uniform, they may listen to me because the boss that led us was not wearing uniform,” he said.
Despite his explanation, the mob reportedly continued to harass him, at one point ordering him to hold the barrel of the teargas canister while still kneeling.
The residents were also heard asking the officer to identify his town of origin, further heightening the tension in the already volatile situation.
A resident of the community, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the incident has triggered a heavy security response, with police reinforcements deployed to the area.
The resident said: “The issue happened in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government of Osun State. We are all aware that there is a problem in that area concerning land and boundary matters. There has been a directive before that policemen should not go to that land to arrest people.”
“But people from Erin-Osun went to their police station and brought policemen to that particular land where the riot was happening. When they got there, the people in Ilobu who were working on the land refused arrest. That was how the misunderstanding started.”
“When the constable fired teargas, people began shouting that he had fired a gun. From there, they grabbed him and beat him mercilessly. They beat him to the extent that they took him to the palace and made a video of him.”
The resident added that security operatives have since taken over the community.
“Police work has now been done. They have started arresting people involved. In that area now, nobody can sleep because police are everywhere, arresting suspects. Anyone who knows Ilobu will understand that there has been a serious land dispute problem in that area. The police have now taken action,” the source said.
As of the time of filing this report, the Osun State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement on the incident, while concerns remain over the escalating tension between the two communities and the conduct of both residents and security operatives.
