By Bukola Olamona
Three men have been remanded in a correctional facility by an Akure Magistrate’s Court for allegedly assaulting police officers on duty at Ijapo Estate, Akure.
The suspects, Odimgbe Blessing, Fred (surname unknown), and Odimgbe Stanley were arraigned following their arrest by operatives of the Ondo State Police Command after a violent confrontation with policemen on Sunday evening.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olushola Ayanlade and made available to Weekend Hope, a distress call was received around 5:00 p.m. from a commercial motorcyclist who reported that police officers were being attacked while carrying out lawful duty at Ijapo Estate.
Ayanlade said a patrol team from the Ijapo Division, supported by local residents, responded swiftly and restored order after encountering stiff resistance from the attackers.
He disclosed that the three suspects were apprehended at the scene and taken into custody, adding that they behaved violently upon arrival at the station, conduct believed to have been influenced by substance abuse.
The suspects were later transferred to the Anti-Cultism Unit for detailed investigation before being charged to court.
He noted that preliminary findings, backed by video evidence, confirmed that the policemen were brutally assaulted while performing their official duties.
The court ordered that the defendants be remanded in custody pending further hearing.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal, described the attack as a criminal act and an insult to constituted authority.
He warned that the Command would not tolerate any form of aggression, intimidation or obstruction against law enforcement officers in the line of duty.
Lawal, however, assured that the police under his watch would continue to uphold professionalism and accountability while protecting citizens’ rights.
He urged residents to remain law-abiding and to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that could help in preventing crime and ensuring peace across Ondo State.