Police officers from the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit of the Nigeria Police Force have been caught on CCTV stealing mobile phones from a shop in Idogun, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The shocking incident occurred on March 22, 2025, amidst heightened tensions in the community, following a serious dispute between a Navy captain, Jide Falade, and the local traditional ruler. This dispute had already escalated into a violent confrontation between security forces and residents, leading to further unrest in the area.
Adebowale narrated that the police officers forcibly entered his shop during the crisis and took away several customers’ phones that had been left there to charge. He emphasized that the entire act was recorded by his CCTV camera, which provided clear evidence of the officers’ actions.
“In each of the videos, a policeman walks into the shop and takes phones from where they were being charged,” Adebowale explained. “I received a mobile alert notifying me of intruders. Upon checking the CCTV footage remotely, I discovered that the individuals responsible were SWAT officers from Akure. Fearing that they might try to destroy the camera to erase evidence, I quickly removed it and kept it safe.”
Tensions had escalated in the community due to allegations made by the local king, who accused Captain Falade of being involved in armed robbery and kidnapping. This led to Falade’s arrest and court arraignment on March 21, with his case being adjourned to March 22 for further hearing.
Following his detention, protests erupted in the community, with Falade’s supporters demanding his release. The protest turned chaotic when SWAT officers, allegedly acting on the king’s orders, intervened with excessive force.
Reports indicate that police officers deployed tear gas and live ammunition to disperse the protesters, triggering a violent response from the angry crowd, who retaliated by hurling stones at the officers.
During the standoff, police officers reportedly retreated in panic, leaving behind a firearm. Remarkably, the protesters later returned the abandoned weapon, showing a sense of restraint despite the ongoing violence.
However, following the confrontation, the local king allegedly led SWAT officers in a targeted crackdown on residents. Several homes and businesses were ransacked, and valuable properties were destroyed. Among the affected establishments was Adebowale’s shop, which was forcefully broken into, leading to the theft of mobile devices and other belongings.
“Early Saturday morning, my shop was attacked, despite the presence of CCTV footage that captured the culprits in action,” Adebowale lamented. “But it didn’t stop there—the police officers also brutalized innocent residents, including men, women, and children. They even killed livestock in the community.”
In another disturbing video obtained by SaharaReporters, a woman and a young boy showed severe injuries they claimed were inflicted by the police officers during the unrest.
The young boy recounted that he was beaten mercilessly with sticks, while the woman alleged that officers threatened to kill her. She described the terrifying moment when they stormed her home and physically assaulted her and her son.
“They kicked the door open and came in. They cut my son with a cutlass and used the blunt side to beat me repeatedly. One of them even threatened to behead me. I told him to go ahead and do it if he dared. He then insisted that he would kill me, but another officer intervened and stopped him,” she revealed.
Graphic photos from the community show the extent of the brutality, including a man with a deep head wound and another individual with a bleeding leg, reportedly caused by the police attack.
Outraged by the events, Adebowale and other affected residents have called for a full-scale investigation into the actions of the SWAT officers. They are demanding justice for the victims and immediate government intervention to address the situation.
Meanwhile, the legal battle involving Captain Falade continues, with his next court hearing scheduled for March 28, 2025.
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