Sam Philip
Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Police Command, Wilfred Afolabi has exonerated his men of any complicity in the ongoing chieftaincy crisis in Idogun, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State.
He said his men who were deployed to the town had been professional in the discharge of their duties without bias.
Briefing journalists in Akure on Monday, the commissioner said the command would not dabble in chieftaincy-related issues, noting that the command is committed to maintaining law and order in all the 18 local government areas of the state.
In his reaction to a viral video alleging a police officer of stealing phones from a phone store at Idogun town during a crisis, the Commissioner exonerated his men from declaring that his men drafted to the community acted professionally and never stole phones as claimed in the viral video.
He warned that the police should not be dragged into civil matter such as the chieftaincy-related issues.
According to him, the policemen were deployed to maintain law and order after the people became riotous over the arrest and remand of one Jide Falade to correctional centre over the traditional stool in the community.
He described the allegations as false and unfounded, the commissioner of Police said the video was misleading.
According to him, investigations into the allegation revealed that the supposedly phone shop was actually a barber’s shop where officers typically charged their phones.
He added that the command has a zero-tolerance policy for indiscipline.
Afolabi said: “My men are still in that community. People who know me very well know that I do not compromise. When I saw the video, I instructed that whosoever that is involved should be arrested.
“The policemen were interrogated and they said it was the shop they used to charge their phones. They never denied going there. They said they went there to collect their phones.
“I have not received any report about people crying theft of their phones. There is no element of truth. If there is any report of phone theft, we will investigate.
“The poster might be a sympathizer of Falade. I urged the public to disregard whatever is being circulated. I see element of somebody who wants to be mischievous.
“As of the time of this briefing, no one has come forward to report that their phone shop was burgled.”
The commissioner said: “When I received information that Falade and his men had allegedly kidnapped individuals and seized their property, I dispatched the SWAT team to apprehend him. He was arrested and brought to Akure for investigation.
“Following the investigation, Falade was arraigned on ten counts charge and remanded at the Ondo Correctional Centre.
“The arrest and detention of Falade, sparked violent protests, with Falade’s supporters blocking roads and setting up bonfires.
“In the course of restoring order, one of our officers was attacked with a machete. Despite this provocation, I gave strict orders that my men must not use live ammunition. We applied minimal force, and no one was killed or injured.”
Distancing the police from the ongoing chieftaincy crisis in Idogun, the commissioner accused Falade of using thuggery instead of following due process to challenge the community’s leadership.
He said: “I advised him that if he had issues with the community ruler, he should approach the governor, the judiciary, or the House of Assembly rather than mobilizing youths to take the law into their own hands.
“The police will not be drawn into mischief. An inspector cannot stoop so low as to steal a phone.
“This is simply an attempt by some individuals to be mischievous because their associate is being held accountable for his actions.”
The commissioner, therefore, urged the public to discountenance the viral video.