Dare Babalola
The Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, Zone II, Osogbo, DSP Ade Ogunyemi, has given reasons behind the arrest of Saheed Ajibola, an Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun Corps) official, in Ibadan on Thursday.
Ogunyemi said the arrest followed an investigation into alleged gun-running, illegal sale of prohibited firearms, forgery, and unlawful possession of arms.
According to him, Ajibola is a principal suspect in a syndicate involved in the unlawful sale of firearms and had been on the run for some time before his arrest.
The Oyo State Security Network Agency had earlier condemned what it described as a “Gestapo-style” abduction of one of its operatives by suspected police officers from Zone I.
The Oyo State Commandant of the Amotekun Corps, Col. Olayinka Olayanku (rtd), said Ajibola, who was deployed to a static patrol at General Gas, Akobo area of Ibadan, was allegedly taken away at about 8 p.m. on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, while on official duty.
Olayanku criticised the manner of the arrest, stating that the agency had maintained a cooperative working relationship with other security agencies, including the Police, the DSS, and the NSCDC, particularly in matters involving their personnel.
However, Ogunyemi, in a statement, maintained that investigations revealed that Ajibola allegedly sold prohibited firearms to unauthorised individuals for criminal purposes and forged a fake police licence, in violation of the ban on the issuance of licences for prohibited arms to individuals since 2018.
“Until his arrest, there was no information regarding his being a member of the Amotekun Corps.
“So far, three other suspects have been arrested in connection with the case, and a barrel gun has been recovered.
“Meanwhile, the police had made several attempts to invite the suspect, but efforts were unsuccessful. The arrest followed credible intelligence and due process. The police will continue to uphold the law despite misinformation.
“The public is urged to cooperate with authorities and provide information on such illicit activities.”
