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The Osun State Government has accused operatives of the Nigeria Police Force of physically assaulting naval personnel while attempting to release suspected hoodlums held in Ile-Ife.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, alleged that operatives of the Osun State Police Command confronted Nigerian Navy personnel after they arrested five suspected hoodlums following reports of gunfire in Ile-Ife.
The government claimed the incident occurred after armed men allegedly attempted to seize control of motor parks in the state.
“It would be recalled that, in an attempt to hijack most parks in Osun State, the Asiri Eniba-led thugs were accompanied by a police team to take over the motor parks across Osun State. Today, the APC team led by Asiri Eniba stormed Ile-Ife, shooting sporadically,” the statement read.
According to Alimi, naval personnel responded after residents raised an alarm over the violence.
“The Navy personnel stationed in the ancient town attended to the save our soul message of Mayfair residents and promptly intervened to arrest the hoodlums,” Alimi said.
The state government further alleged that the Commissioner of Police subsequently demanded the suspects be released to the police but was turned down by the naval commander pending approval from higher authorities.
“It was learnt that immediately, the Commissioner of Police heard about the arrest, he called the Commandant of the Navy to release them to him, but the Commandant told the Osun State Commissioner of Police to allow him seek approval from the higher authority before handing them to the police,” Alimi said.
Alimi alleged that the police commissioner reacted by deploying heavily armed officers against the Navy.
“The Osun CP was reportedly enraged with the Navy Commandant’s reply. He then sent four lorries of mobile policemen to attack the Nigerian Navy, with a view to rescue the hoodlums,” Alimi alleged.
He further claimed that the police used tear gas during the confrontation and succeeded in freeing the suspects.
“Reports indicated that the mobile policemen swiftly moved in and teargassed the Naval men before rescuing the hooligans,” the statement said.
The government, however, claimed that the suspects’ firearms remained in the Navy’s custody.
Describing the incident as unprecedented, Alimi said, “This is a bizarre situation and impunity carried too far.”
He appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene before tensions escalate further.
“Osun State Government is therefore calling on Mr President, who is the father of the Nation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to wade into Osun matters before it degenerates further,” the statement said.
The government also called on National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to intervene.
“As we have been crying loud to the whole world, especially the diplomatic communities, we are also calling on the diplomatic community to impose a visa ban on any police official who is aiding and abetting political violence in Osun State,” the statement said.
Osun Govt Raises Alarm over Reported Police Attack on Navy Personnel to Free Asiri Eniba Thugs
● Calls on President Tinubu, NSA, Diplomatic Community to Stop Police Impunity
Osun state Government has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National security Adviser and the… pic.twitter.com/kJDFXesyQt
— Osun State Government (@Osun_State_Gov) July 26, 2026
