Residents, police clash in Ondo community over arrest of suspected criminal

There was tension in Ayede Ogbese, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State on Saturday as residents protested the arrest of a suspected thug in the town, Adebo Ademola by the police.

The protesters who were mainly youths made attempts to set the police post in the town ablaze, but for the timely intervention of the police.

For several hours, travellers were stranded as all major roads in the town, including the Owo-Abuja road were blocked by the protesters.

It took the intervention of the State commissioner of Police, Mrs Hilda Harrison who deployed anti-riot police men to the troubled town before normalcy could be returned.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state Police command, Mr Femi Joseph who confirmed the incident told DAILY POST that the protesters were acting in error.

He explained that the police in compliance to the order of the Commissioner of Police, Mrs Harrison arrested a notorious thug in the town who also specializes in selling indian hemp.

He stated that the suspect was caught with various incriminating objects when the police inspected his house.

The PPRO said the residents of the town made attempts to prevent the arrest of the suspect, who he said was known for criminalities.

According to him, the suspect and one other person arrested were caught with weeds suspected to be indian hemp.

He said the residents of the town resolved to protest when the Divisional Police Officer in the area, Mr Akeem Adedeji resisted their overtures.

“What the people of Ayede Ogbese did was not a protest but an illegal show of ignorance.

“They were protesting that the Police arrested one of their kinsmen. This is a display of ignorance,” he added.

However, the PPRO disclosed that peace had returned to the town, adding that the anti-riot police officers deployed to the town would remain there till normalcy returned fully.

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