Police rescue fake soldier from lynching mob in Abeokuta
The Ogun State Police Command has said operatives of its Special Weapons and Tactics Unit on Tuesday rescued a man posing as a soldier from being lynched by an angry mob in the Olomore area of Abeokuta, the State capital.
The Command’s Spokesperson, SP Omolola Odutola, who disclosed this in a statement, said the intervention followed a distress alert picked up by the Police Cyber Centre indicating that a crowd had cornered a man dressed in full military camouflage and were preparing to attack him over an alleged theft.
According to Odutola, the rapid response of SWAT operatives averted what could have escalated into a fatal mob assault, as the attackers dispersed immediately upon sighting the police team. The suspect was thereafter taken into custody for safety and investigation.
Further intelligence gathered by the police revealed that the suspect, identified as 31 year old Robinson Godday, had allegedly snatched two mobile phones from a resident in the area. His attempt to escape was said to have failed after he was chased down by youths who surrounded and beat him, leaving him with a leg injury before the police intervened.
Odutola said, “Open source intelligence further revealed that the suspect 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.”
The police spokesperson added that during preliminary interrogation, Godday confessed he was not a military officer and admitted that he had stolen the camouflage uniform from a serving soldier stationed at the Ojo Military Barracks in Lagos, who is currently deployed on operations in the North East.
The stolen phones, already retrieved by the crowd before the arrival of the security team, were returned to their owner, the command noted.
The Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, has ordered intensified security operations around Olomore and adjoining communities, directing officers to conduct routine stop and search exercises, tactical patrols and targeted raids to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
Ogunlowo, while condemning the mob action, cautioned residents against taking the law into their own hands, stressing that jungle justice undermines due process and often complicates police investigations.
He urged the public to promptly hand over suspects to law enforcement agencies rather than resort to violence.
The police said the suspect remains in custody and will be transferred to the appropriate unit for further investigation and possible prosecution once inquiries are concluded.
The command restated its commitment to safeguarding lives and property across Ogun State and appealed for continued cooperation from residents in providing timely information that can aid security response.