Hoodlums Ambush Police in Osun, Snatch Rifle, Patrol Vehicle

ValidViewNetwork can report that the Osun State Police Command has launched a full-scale manhunt for suspected hoodlums who ambushed a police patrol team along the Ibadan-Ife Expressway, snatching an AK-47 rifle and a patrol vehicle.

The attack, which occurred on Monday, August 24, 2026, left two civilians dead and two police officers seriously injured.

The incident happened at about 11 am when officers attached to the Ikire Divisional Police Headquarters, led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), responded to a distress call over the alleged abduction of a man identified as Sunkanmi.

Assailants Open Fire

ValidViewNetwork learnt that according to a statement issued by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, the police team came under sudden and unprovoked attack upon arriving at the scene.

Ojelabi said the assailants opened fire on the officers while they were inside their operational vehicle and succeeded in snatching one of the AK-47 service rifles. The hoodlums subsequently used the stolen weapon to shoot indiscriminately, resulting in the death of two civilians.

Victims Identified

ValidViewNetwork can confirm the victims were identified as Nureni Sobowale, 49, from the Odeda area of Abeokuta, and Saheed Akinrole, 43, of Adeagbo Compound, Ikire.

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Their remains have been deposited at the Oluyoro Catholic Mortuary, while their families have been notified. The two injured police officers were initially taken to a nearby medical facility for emergency treatment before being transferred to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, for further medical attention.

Investigation Underway

ValidViewNetwork understands that the patrol vehicle was later recovered abandoned, with multiple bullet holes and a shattered windscreen. Investigators recovered nine expended ammunition shells from the scene, which have been taken for forensic examination.

The newly deployed Commissioner of Police in Osun State, CP Ibrahim Zungura, has visited the scene and ordered a comprehensive investigation, with the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) directed to lead the probe.