The Osun State Police Command has explained the circumstances that led its operatives to scale the fence of a residence in Oroki Estate, Osogbo, during an attempt to arrest a suspect, Aderanti Jeremiah Oluwapelumi.
A viral video circulating on social media on Friday showed some police officers climbing over the fence of the residence before gaining access to the premises.
The development triggered reactions online, with many social media users criticising the action and accusing the police of unprofessional conduct.
Some users described the operation as unlawful, while others questioned the method adopted by the operatives during the attempted arrest.
Reacting to the incident, the spokesperson for Zone 11 Police Command, Osogbo, Ogunyemi Adeyemo, said the suspect had been on the police wanted list over allegations of impersonation and fraud.
Adeyemo disclosed that the suspect allegedly paraded himself as a lawyer and also claimed to be a personal assistant to Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, in order to defraud members of the public.
According to him, the suspect had several petitions against him from complainants who accused him of obtaining money under false pretences.
The police spokesperson explained that operatives visited the suspect’s residence after efforts to reach him proved unsuccessful.
He said the suspect initially came out to meet the officers after being informed of their presence by a house help but later requested to change his clothes because he was wearing only boxers.
Adeyemo stated that the suspect allegedly locked the gate immediately after re-entering the building and attempted to evade arrest, forcing the operatives to scale the fence in an effort to apprehend him.
He added that despite the operation, the suspect was not immediately arrested at the scene but later reported himself at the police station the same day.
The police spokesperson maintained that the officers acted within the powers granted to them by law, considering the nature of the allegations against the suspect.
He further disclosed that the suspect would be arraigned in court after the conclusion of investigations.
(Source:Peoples Gazette)
