The Ogun State Police Command has refuted claims circulating in a viral video suggesting an imminent herdsmen attack on Ajebo community in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area, assuring residents that there is no threat to public safety.
Police spokesperson, CSP Omolola Odutola, issued the clarification in a statement on Friday, noting that the viral footage had triggered unnecessary panic among residents.
In response to the video, Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, deployed a tactical team—led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations)—to the community to assess the situation.
The joint team also included operatives of the Amotekun Corps, So-Safe Corps, local hunters, the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, and the Police Community Relations Committee.
Odutola said the investigation revealed that the Fulani residents in the area were not new arrivals, nor were they hostile.
“The operatives discovered that the Fulani settlers in Ajebo are not hostile migrants but long-standing residents living peacefully within the community,” she said.
“Children and women were seen in their temporary shelters, and no arms or suspicious activities were found.”
According to her, the adult men were absent because they had travelled to Oyo State for trading, a pattern she described as consistent with their economic activities.
She added that security officers also confirmed the presence of an extended RUGA settlement that has existed for more than a decade.
The command further disclosed that the community’s traditional ruler, Oba Rueben Oluwole—who reportedly allocated land to the Fulani settlers—has been invited for clarification. The Baale of Alapako, where another settlement was identified, has also been summoned to meet with the Commissioner of Police.
“The combined team of security agencies is maintaining surveillance within the forest area, about 10 kilometres away from the main community,” Odutola said. “Their presence is purely precautionary, as the settlers were found to be unarmed and coexisting peacefully.”
She urged residents to remain calm and refrain from circulating unverified information capable of escalating tensions.
“We want to reassure the public that proactive intelligence measures are fully in place,” she added. “People must stay vigilant but avoid sharing false alerts that can cause fear.”
The clarification comes amid growing national concerns over farmer-herder tensions, often triggered by disputes over land use, grazing routes, and migration across communities.
In January 2025, a House of Representatives member representing Yewa North/Imeko-Afon, Gboyega Isiaka, raised alarm over alleged herdsmen encroachment on farmlands in Araromi-Ibese, citing destruction of crops and threats to local livelihoods.
The Ogun Police Command, however, insists that the situation in Ajebo remains calm and under control.
