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Not less than 19 persons have been arrested by the police in connection with the killing of four persons in Monday’s cult clash in Owo.
Newly deployed Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, gave the hint while on an assessment visit to the ancient town on Tuesday in the aftermath of the crisis.
The clash was reported to have been triggered by two opposing cult groups in the town and the spate of fighting was heightened by attempts at reprisals.
A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, on Tuesday, said
Mr Afolabi, “paid an unscheduled visit to Owo to carry out an on-the-spot assessment of the recent cult-related crisis that claimed four (4) lives.”
She said the Commissioner of Police who just assumed duty, was immediately confronted with the crisis and has pledged to make combating crime and social vices in the state a top priority.
“So far, Nineteen (19) suspects have been arrested in connection with the crisis,” she said.
“Investigations are ongoing to determine their level of involvement in the incident.”
She further said that Mr Afolabi issued a stern warning to miscreants and potential criminals to stay away from the state, emphasizing the command’s resolve to rid Ondo State of all forms of crime and criminality.
The clash reported claimed the life of a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Owo Local Government, Fisayo Oladipo and three others.
It was gathered that the ugly event was said to have occurred at around 2:00am on Monday when the gunmen stormed Mr Oladipo’s house in Owo and killed him.
Mr Oladipo popularly called Fissey Ehin Ogbe, was a former youth leader of APC and prominent member of the party in the owo local Government.
The new CP takes over from Abayomi Oladipo, who has since been redeployed to police duties elsewhere.
Mr Afolabi is a graduate of the University of Ilorin where he bagged a Bsc degree in Botany and also proceeded to University of Port Harcourt for his PGD and MSc degrees in Peace and Security Studies.
He enlisted into the Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police on the 18th of May, 1992 and was trained at the Prestigious Police Academy Kaduna.
The CP in the course of his career as a Police Officer has attended several courses within and outside the Country which has aided his Policing Skills. The courses include:
1. National Institute of Police Studies (NIPS) Abuja – 2021
2. Strategic and Leadership Command Course in Jos – 2011
3. Peace keeping Negotiation Course at Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre. Ghana – 2004
4. United Nations Training Assistance Team (UNTAT) War College Abuja – 2004.
5. Basic Certificate Course in Microsoft Office XP NIIT, Abuja -2004
6. Human Rights Special Response Training in Bosnia and Herzegovinia – 2002
7. Joint Training Programme on Human Rights Bosnia and Herzegovinia – 2002
8. International Immigration Training Course Lagos – 2000
9. Police Mobile Force, Unit Combat/Operation Training, Maiduguri -1999
10. Police Mobile Force Conversion Course, Maiduguri – 1995
11. Leadership and Citizenship Course, Man O War Training Centre, Shere Hills in Jos – 1993.
It is pertinent to state that the Commissioner of Police is an International Police Officer who have served Humanity in and outside the Country.
He served in the African Union Mission in SUDAN 2004-2005 where he served as Pioneer Commander of Sector 2, Nyala and later became Pioneer Regional Commander at Southern Darfur.
His landmark as a commander during this missions includes setting up-Operational and Administrative units of the sector, establishment of Six (6) Civil Police Stations and Three (3) group sites in the IDP Camps, etc., while coordinating the activities of CIVPOL for the overall professional performance of the required mandate of CIVPOL.
In 2001, the CP also led the Nigeria Contingents to United Nations Mission in Bosnia Herzegovinia as the Commander and served in the Special unit under the Human Rights Section in UNMIBH Headquarters in Sarajevo.
CP Afolabi at the home front served as
Divisional Crime Officer Takum in Taraba State
Unit Commander, Police Mobile Force, MOPOL 8, Plateau State.
Staff Officer at the Department of Operations,FHQ Abuja.
2ic Police Task Group, JTF, Operation Restore Hope ‘Warri’ 2006- 2009
Commander Police Component, Warri Sector, Operation Restore Hope 2009-2011.
Directing Staff at Police Staff College Jos/ lecturer of Professional Studies
DPO Gwarinpa, Karu,Maple Divisions.
As an Assistant Commissioner of Police, he served as ACP in charge of Intelligence, 2016- 2017,
ACP Operations Imo State Police Command, 2017- 2020
Area Commander Oraifite, Anambra, 2020- 2021.
In 2021, after his elevation to the rank of a Deputy Commissioner of Police, he was posted to Bayelsa State Command as Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations and was later transferred to katsina State as DC CID in 2022.
In 2023, He was sent to Delta State Command as the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Department of Finance and Administration.
After his elevation to the Rank of a Commissioner of Police in September, he was posted as the Force Equitation Officer, a position he held until his recent posting to Ondo State Police Command.
CP Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi is happily married with lovely children and his hobbies includes Reading and Exploration of the World via traveling.