Two Killed as Alleged POS Robbery Triggers Mob Violence and Chaos in Ibadan
A suspected robbery attempt at a Point-of-Sale (POS) outlet in the Ojoo area of Ibadan turned into a violent confrontation that claimed at least two lives, left several people injured, and caused extensive damage to property.
The incident occurred around the Strabag axis of Ojoo in Akinyele Local Government Area, where what initially appeared to be an isolated crime quickly escalated into mob violence and retaliatory attacks.
According to eyewitnesses, the unrest may have started after a disagreement involving a commercial tricycle operator, wheelbarrow pushers, and a failed transaction at a POS outlet. The situation reportedly spiraled out of control, leading to acts of jungle justice and widespread disorder.
However, the Oyo State Police Command offered a different account. Police said preliminary investigations indicate that the violence began when four young men allegedly attempted to rob a POS operator of his mobile phone. The suspected robbery reportedly sparked a confrontation that later developed into mob attacks and reprisal violence.
The disturbance disrupted normal business activities in the area as residents fled for safety. Several shops and properties were reportedly damaged during the chaos, while fears of escalating ethnic tensions spread through the community.
In response, security agencies deployed a large number of personnel to restore order, prevent further violence, and reassure residents. Authorities have also launched investigations to identify those responsible for the killings and destruction.
The police urged members of the public to remain calm, avoid taking the law into their own hands, and report criminal activities through the appropriate security channels.
Authorities have arrested four suspects following the deadly violence that erupted in the Ojoo area of Ibadan, after an alleged robbery attempt at a Point-of-Sale (POS) outlet escalated into mob action and reprisal attacks.
According to the Oyo State Police Command, one of the suspected robbers, identified as Abeeb Olajide, was captured by residents after his alleged accomplices fled the scene. Police said the suspect was severely beaten by an angry mob before officers rescued him and rushed him to a hospital. He later died while receiving treatment.
The violence continued to spread across the community, resulting in the death of another victim, Kamorudeen Abdulrasheed, whose exact cause of death remains under investigation.
Police also confirmed that six makeshift shops containing condemned plastic materials were set ablaze during the unrest before firefighters brought the fire under control.
The four suspects arrested in connection with the incident have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Iyaganku for further investigation into the alleged attempted robbery, mob action, and the resulting public disturbance.
Eyewitnesses Give Different Version of Events
Some residents offered accounts that differed from the police’s preliminary findings.
According to eyewitnesses, the crisis allegedly began after a commercial tricycle rider experienced a failed cash withdrawal due to network problems at a POS outlet. They claimed the rider handed over his tricycle keys and mobile phone as security while trying to resolve the issue.
Witnesses alleged that an argument broke out before the rider was attacked and stabbed. They claimed he later died in hospital, prompting colleagues and relatives to stage reprisals that escalated into widespread violence.
Another resident claimed armed individuals later joined the clashes, with gunfire leaving another young man dead and several others injured. These eyewitness accounts have not been independently verified.
The unrest forced traders to shut down businesses around the Strabag and Ojoo Motor Park areas, while many residents fled for safety.
Security personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Amotekun were deployed to restore order and prevent further violence.
Oyo Government Urges Calm
During a visit to the affected community, Bayo Lawal appealed to residents not to turn the incident into an ethnic conflict.
He stressed that criminal activities should never be associated with any ethnic group and assured residents that everyone found responsible would face justice regardless of their background.
The deputy governor also urged residents to cooperate with security agencies and allow investigators to carry out their work without interference.
Meanwhile, the police reiterated their warning against jungle justice, encouraging the public to hand criminal suspects over to law enforcement authorities instead of taking the law into their own hands. Security has since been strengthened across Ojoo and other parts of Ibadan as investigations continue.