The Ogun State Police Command has announced that operatives of its Special Weapons and Tactics Unit prevented a man impersonating a soldier from being killed by a mob in the Olomore area of Abeokuta.
The command’s spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, revealed this in a statement on Tuesday.
According to the command, officers responded after receiving a distress alert from the Cyber Centre indicating that a man dressed in full military camouflage had been surrounded by residents who were preparing to attack him.
Odutola explained that the swift intervention of the SWAT team averted what could have been a fatal mob assault.
She said, “The incident followed a distress call intercepted by the command’s Cyber Centre, alerting operatives that a man dressed in full military green camouflage uniform was surrounded by a crowd and on the verge of being lynched.
“SWAT operatives raced to the scene, and upon sighting the officers, the mob immediately dispersed, allowing safe rescue of the suspect.”
Further intelligence, Odutola noted, suggested that the suspect had allegedly stolen two mobile phones from a resident before being pursued and apprehended by local youths.
She stated, “Open-source intelligence further revealed that the suspect, Robinson Godday ‘m’, 31 years old, had allegedly snatched two mobile phones from a young man in the area.
“His attempt to escape proved futile as he was overtaken by a large crowd intent on mob justice.
“He was subsequently assaulted by the irate youths and sustained an injury on his right leg.”
The police added that the phones were recovered and returned to the owner before officers arrived.
During initial interrogation, the suspect, identified as Robinson Godday, reportedly admitted he was not a soldier.
Odutola said, “The suspect confessed that he was not a military officer, admitting that he had stolen the military uniform from a soldier serving at the Ojo Military Barracks, Lagos, who is currently deployed on operations in the North-East.”
The Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, has ordered intensified security checks in the area to curb similar incidents.
According to Odutola, the CP condemned the mob’s actions and instructed officers to increase raids and stop-and-search operations around Olomore.
The suspect remains in police custody as investigations continue, and the command urged residents to avoid taking laws into their own hands by handing suspects over to authorities.
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