A police officer on duty was stabbed to death on Wednesday by suspected thugs in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Sources told LEADERSHIP that the officer was attacked near the Arakale area after an altercation with the assailants.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Ondo Command, Olushola Ayanlade, clarified that the attack occurred earlier on Wednesday contrary to some social media reports. He explained that the officer encountered a group of hostile individuals while performing his duties in the early hours of the morning.
“What started as a routine engagement quickly escalated into a violent confrontation,” Ayanlade said. “The officer was stabbed by one of the assailants and suffered critical injuries. Emergency response was immediately activated.”
Police personnel were later deployed to the scene to restore order and arrest the culprits. Two suspects 25-year-old Shina Jacob and 32-year-old Felix Olalekan have been taken into custody.
Despite being rushed to the hospital, the officer died from his injuries.
Describing the incident as a painful loss, Ayanlade noted that the officer died while dutifully protecting lives and property. He assured the public that investigations are ongoing and that the suspects will be charged in court.
The PPRO also cautioned against the spread of false information that could distort the facts or cause panic.
He reiterated that while the police will not condone misconduct within its ranks, attacks on officers performing lawful duties will be met with firm legal consequences.
