By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the arrest of an officer of the Western Security Network, code-named Amotekun, identified as Saheed Ajibola, over alleged gun running, illegal sales of prohibited arms, forgery, and unlawful possession of firearms in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The Zonal Public Relations Officer, Zone 11, Osogbo, Osun State, Ade Ogunyemi, in a statement issued in Ibadan on Friday, explained that Ajibola is a principal suspect in a syndicate involved in gun running and has been at large for a long time.
Ogunyemi said, “The Nigeria Police Force, Zone 11, Osogbo, is investigating a case involving gun running, illegal sales of prohibited arms, forgery, and unlawful possession of firearms. Amo Saheed Ajibola, the individual arrested, is a principal suspect in the syndicate and has been at large for a long time.
“Investigations revealed that Ajibola sold prohibited firearms to unauthorised individuals for criminal use and forged a fake police license, contravening the ban on issuing licenses for prohibited arms to individuals since 2018. Until his arrest, there was no information regarding his membership in the Amotekun Corps.
“So far, three other suspects have been arrested in connection with the case, and a barrel gun has been recovered. The arrest followed credible intelligence and due process. The police will continue to uphold the law despite misinformation. The public is urged to cooperate with authorities and provide information on such illicit activities.”
The Oyo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun Corps, however, condemned the manner in which Ajibola was apprehended.
The state Commandant, Col. Olayinka Olayanju (retd.), described the arrest as unacceptable and contrary to established inter-agency protocols.
Olayanju said, “We have always handed over suspected individuals to relevant security agencies on request, which is the standard procedure in our collaboration with the Police and other sister agencies. The Gestapo-like approach of abducting Amo Saheed Ajibola while on duty does not demonstrate civility and was entirely unjustified.
“The officers who apprehended the operative were neither in police uniform nor arrived in a branded police vehicle.
“Considering that anybody can claim to be a police officer carrying sophisticated weapons and operating in mufti, such an approach is dangerous, especially given recent incidences of abduction in the metropolis.”
As of press time, the Amotekun Headquarters said it had not received any official correspondence regarding Ajibola’s arrest.