Police react to video showing operatives shooting in Osogbo

By Isa Isawade

The Osun State Police Command has reacted to the viral video showing police personnel purportedly shooting at innocent citizens at the Ogo-Oluwa area of Osogbo.

The command on Sunday debunked the story and put record straight in a press release signed by the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi.

According to Ojelabi, police operatives on the order of the state’s Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, went to effect arrest of a suspected member of AYE Confraternity who had been identified in an earlier viral video where alleged members of the cult group were publicly brandishing dangerous weapons.

Ojelabi said that as the officers were trying to arrest the suspect, hoodlums around attempted to obstruct the operatives from carrying out their duty.

He added that when the situation became violent and the safety of the officers threatened, they had to fire warning shots into the air to disperse the crowd.

The statement read: “The Nigeria Police Force, Osun State Command, wishes to inform the general public that its operatives did not shoot at innocent citizens playing football at the Ogo-Oluwa area of Osogbo, as being alleged.

“The operatives acted following a petition submitted to the Office of the Inspector-General of Police on 2nd May 2026, concerning a viral video circulating on various social media platforms in which some individuals suspected to be leaders and members of the AYE Confraternity were seen openly brandishing firearms, axes, cutlasses, and other dangerous weapons.

“The petition was subsequently forwarded to the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, for discreet investigation and necessary action.

“In line with the directive of the Commissioner of Police, the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) commenced a thorough investigation into the incident in line with international best practices, with the aim of identifying, apprehending, and prosecuting all persons connected with the unlawful act.

“Acting on credible intelligence and a coordinated operational strategy approved by the Command, operatives swung into action and successfully identified one of the key suspects captured in the viral video.

“Operatives from the SCID stormed the suspects’ hideout, where one Semiu Baruwa ‘M’ only was arrested. He was identified as one of the individuals seen in the viral video vandalizing billboards around Osogbo and its environs.

“In the process, some hoodlums and suspected thugs attempted to obstruct the police officers from carrying out their lawful duty by preventing the operatives from taking the arrested suspect into custody for further interrogation.

“The situation became violent and posed serious threats to the safety and lives of the operatives, thereby necessitating the police officers to fire warning shots into the air in order to disperse the mob and safely extricate themselves from the scene.

“The Command wishes to state unequivocally that no innocent person was targeted during the operation, and that the actions of the operatives were in strict compliance with operational safety procedures aimed at protecting lives and ensuring public order.

“The suspect was eventually taken into custody successfully and is currently assisting the police in the ongoing investigation.

“Efforts are also ongoing to apprehend other individuals connected with the incident, as well as those who attempted to obstruct lawful police duty.

“The Commissioner of Police reassures the good people of Osun State that the Command remains resolute in its fight against cultism, criminality, and all forms of violent conduct capable of threatening the peace and security of the State.

“Members of the public are urged to remain calm, law-abiding, and to continue supporting the police with timely and credible information that can aid ongoing investigations.

“Further developments on the matter will be communicated to the public as the investigation progresses.”