The Ondo State Police Command has arrested 14 suspects over an attack on a police station and officers by an angry mob in Ala, Akure North Local Government Area of the state.

Two suspects accused of involvement in the murder of a farmer, Rasheed Hassan, were rescued from the mob, which allegedly attempted to lynch them while they were being taken to the police station.

The incident followed the discovery of Hassan’s body at General Camp in the Government Reserve area on October 24, 2026.

According to the command’s public relations officer DSP Jimoh Abayomi , preliminary observations revealed deep cuts on the farmer’s head and other parts of his body, while his belongings were reportedly missing.

The police said investigations into the killing commenced immediately, while the Ala Youth President Ayodele Fabunmi reportedly arrested two suspects on October 26 and was taking them to the police station when an angry crowd confronted him, demanding that the suspects be handed over for extrajudicial killing.

The youth leader subsequently sought refuge at the Ala Divisional Police Headquarters with the suspects, but the mob reportedly pursued them and attacked the police facility with stones and other dangerous objects, preventing rescue teams from gaining access to the area.

The police said tactical and rescue teams were deployed to restore order and protect lives, adding that the two suspects were successfully rescued at about 1:45 a.m. on October 27.

However, the patrol team conveying the suspects to Akure came under attack, leaving two police officers with gunshot injuries allegedly caused by pellets fired from a pump-action firearm.

The injured officers were immediately taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The Command said 14 suspects had been arrested in connection with the attack on the police station, officers and rescue team, adding that investigations were ongoing to establish the individual roles of those arrested.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu, condemned the attack, describing mob action and attempts to obstruct lawful police operations as unacceptable.

Ohagwu warned that no individual or group had the right to take the law into their own hands, irrespective of the gravity of an alleged crime.

He also cautioned against attacks on police facilities and officers, assuring residents that investigations into the farmer’s death and the subsequent violence would be thorough and that anyone found culpable would face the law.

The police said normalcy had returned to the community, although tactical deployments and security monitoring would continue to prevent further breakdown of law and order.

The Command urged residents to remain calm, cooperate with security agencies and provide credible information to assist the investigations.

It also called on community leaders and youth groups to discourage mob action and allow the criminal justice system to take its course.