Inspector feared silenced after alleged years of persecution within Nigeria
Serious concerns are being raised over the fate of Inspector Bamilosin Johnson Ola, a serving officer of the Nigeria Police Force whose whereabouts are presently unknown following a sequence of events that sources describe as a pattern of persecution linked to his refusal to participate in corrupt practices within the force.
Inspector Ola, born 25 July 1989, is a native of Efon Alaaye Local Government Area of Ekiti State and was resident at No. 11, Lidipe Street, Iju-Ishaga, Lagos prior to his last known deployment. He enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force on 1 June 2009 and completed his basic training at the Police College, Ikeja, Lagos State. He subsequently served for several years within the Lagos State Police Command, where colleagues describe him as a dedicated law-enforcement officer committed to protecting lives and property and enforcing the law.
Multiple sources familiar with his service record indicate that Inspector Ola developed a reputation for openly resisting extortion, bribery, and other unlawful practices. His stance reportedly created tension within his unit and led to professional isolation. Allegations suggest that complaints he raised concerning misconduct were not formally investigated and that he was increasingly regarded as uncooperative within the command structure. It is further alleged that suspects he lawfully arrested were released after bribery by other officers, after which he reportedly received threats from criminal elements, heightening concerns for his personal safety.
On 8 February 2023, Inspector Ola was transferred from Lagos State to Iyaganku Divisional Headquarters, Oyo State, a move described by some colleagues as punitive. While serving in Oyo State, he reportedly continued to refuse bribes despite warnings to remain silent about activities allegedly linked to influential criminal networks.
Shortly after his promotion to the rank of Inspector, events took a more serious turn. On 26 May 2023, just three days after his promotion, he was reportedly shot in the left arm by unidentified gunmen following warnings to stop interfering with arrangements involving drug trafficking. He received medical treatment at the Police Hospital, Eleyele, Ibadan, but sources state that no meaningful investigation or protective measures were provided after the attack.
In late October 2025, after recovering from his injuries, Inspector Ola was posted to Damaturu, Yobe State, an area widely known for insurgency-related violence and attacks on security personnel. Despite reportedly appealing the posting due to safety concerns, the transfer was not reversed. While serving in Yobe State, he reportedly survived an ambush during a patrol along Bade Road, narrowly escaping after other officers disappeared during the incident.
Since that time, his whereabouts have remained unknown, prompting fears among those familiar with his case that he may have been deliberately exposed to harm. Observers note that the sequence of transfers, the shooting incident, and the absence of formal investigations raise serious questions about internal accountability mechanisms and the safety of officers perceived to challenge entrenched interests within law-enforcement institutions.