The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed that two police officers narrowly escaped mob violence after residents of a community in Sagamu mistakenly accused them of being kidnappers.
The incident occurred on Monday in Kanuyi, Simawa area of Sagamu Local Government Area, where the officers were reportedly intercepted by residents who became suspicious of their presence and raised an alarm.
The development drew public attention after videos and photographs of the men circulated online, with claims that they were involved in kidnapping activities.
Reacting to the reports, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said investigations revealed that the men were serving officers attached to a Police Mobile Force formation in Lagos State.
According to him, police operatives were dispatched to the community immediately after receiving information about the incident and successfully prevented the officers from being attacked by the crowd.
Babaseyi explained that preliminary findings showed the officers had travelled to Ogun State on official duty and lost their way while attempting to return to their base in Lagos.
He stated that their identities were subsequently established through official documents, including service identification cards and deployment records, while their command in Lagos also confirmed their status.
The police spokesperson noted that before officers arrived at the scene, some residents had already searched the men, taken photographs and recorded videos, which were later uploaded to social media with misleading captions.
He warned against the growing trend of branding individuals as criminals without proper verification, stressing that such actions could endanger innocent lives and undermine security efforts.
While applauding residents for remaining alert to security threats, Babaseyi urged members of the public to channel suspicious cases to security agencies for proper investigation rather than resorting to self-help.
He reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting lives and maintaining law and order, urging residents to always verify information before sharing it on social media.
