Ogun communities groan as extrajudicial killings, brutality persist
For many citizens, the sight of a police checkpoint triggers not a feeling of security but a surge of anxiety. What is constitutionally mandated to be routine safety enforcement has devolved into a cycle of trigger-happy aggression, where minor altercations, routine questioning or simple roadside disputes routinely escalate into fatal gunfire. DAILY POST reports that […] Ogun communities groan as…
Residents of Ogun communities live in constant fear as extrajudicial killings and brutality continue to be rife. What is constitutionally mandated as routine safety enforcement has transformed into a cycle of trigger-happy aggression, with minor disputes often escalating into fatal shootings. Despite calls for police reform decades ago, the situation remains grim. Young people are profiled based on appearance, traders are extorted, and peaceful residents endure brutal physical discipline from those sworn to protect them.
On Wednesday, August 19, 2026, Owolabi Oniyiku, a 32-year-old tiler and father of one, lost his life along the Ifonyintedo–Akinde Road in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State. Oniyiku, a resident of Lagos, had returned to his hometown for the traditional Oro festival, unaware that it would be his last. An operative from the Idiroko Border Patrol Team allegedly fired the fatal shot, causing violent protests and heightened tension in the border community.
A 18-second video captured the lifeless body of the victim, with youths proclaiming, "Police officers in Idiroko have killed someone."
The police spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the incident and stated that the Command is aware of the case and conducting a diligent investigation. He confirmed that the officers involved have been arrested. In March, the Students' Union Government of Olabisi Onabanjo University accused police officers of assaulting their leaders and opening fire on unarmed students during a clash at the Oru-Ijebu Police Station.
The SUG Legal Director visited the station following reports of students being arrested under questionable circumstances. The police officers responded with reckless violence, opening fire on unarmed students and unlawfully arresting multiple individuals. The police deny detaining a student and claim the situation escalated after students became agitated following the authorities' response. Reinforcements were called to disperse the crowd, and normalcy has since been restored.
Other incidents involving police misconduct include the shooting of a betting agent in Abeokuta in July 2024, the killing of Nigerian actor Azeez Ijaduade by a trigger-happy officer in Iperu in December 2024, and the alleged murder of Tiyamiyu Kazeem, a football player, by an SARS officer in February 2020.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Post Nigeria's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
