The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two officers in connection with the death of a commercial motorcyclist, Sanni Salisu, during an allegedly unauthorized stop-and-search operation in the Moniya area of Ibadan.

According to a statement by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the officers, attached to the Kara Police Outpost, were said to have intercepted Salisu, a 35-year-old okada rider, while conducting a stop-and-search that was not officially sanctioned.

During the encounter, police said Salisu suddenly suffered what appeared to be an epileptic seizure, slumped on his motorcycle and became unresponsive. He was reportedly rushed by the officers to Modupe Hospital in Akinyele, where he was confirmed dead by medical personnel.

News of the incident quickly spread through the community, triggering anger and suspicion among residents who believed the motorcyclist’s death was linked to police misconduct. In the ensuing unrest, a mob attacked the Kara Police Outpost, setting parts of the facility ablaze.

The command disclosed that three motorcycles and a Mazda pick-up patrol vehicle were destroyed in the fire, while one police officer sustained severe burns during the attack. Reinforcement teams were later deployed to restore order in the area.

The body of the deceased has been deposited at Adeoyo State Hospital Mortuary, Ring Road, Ibadan, for autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. The Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, ordered the immediate arrest and detention of the two officers involved and directed that they be subjected to internal disciplinary procedures.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department has been mandated to conduct what the command described as a thorough and discreet investigation, with a promise that anyone found culpable will face sanctions in line with the law and police regulations.

The command also expressed concern over what it called false and mischievous narratives circulating on social media, urging the public to rely on official information and to refrain from taking the law into their own hands.

Reiterating a policy of zero tolerance for indiscipline and misconduct, the Oyo State Police Command assured residents that justice would be served and appealed for calm and cooperation as investigations continue.