Police Arrest Five Over Alleged Assault of Woman In Iwo

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

The Osun State Police Command has arrested five persons in connection with an alleged assault that left a woman, Mrs Ibironke Arowolo, injured in Iwo, Osun State.

The Command also dismissed allegations of police inaction in the matter, describing a statement circulating on social media by a human rights activist, Nurudeen Ibraheem, in collaboration with Arowolo’s children, as a misrepresentation of the facts surrounding the incident.

In a statement issued on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, the Command said the case was initially reported at the Iwo Divisional Police Headquarters by one Ayetimiyi Oluwakemi against Ajani Saheed on allegation of assault occasioning harm.

According to the police, the matter was subsequently referred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discreet investigation.

The Command explained that preliminary investigation revealed an existing dispute between two factions of commercial motorcycle riders operating around Iri-Eru Junction, Iwo.

It said one of the factions was allegedly supported by Saheed Ajani, who owns a hotel in the area, while the other was supported by Arowolo, who operates a beer parlour at the same junction.

The police said the two factions had allegedly been involved in disputes over customers for some time, with their chairman intervening to settle previous disagreements.

According to the statement, trouble resurfaced on September 6, 2026, while efforts were being made to resolve another disagreement between the riders.

The Command alleged that a fight broke out between Ajani and Samuel Ayetimiyi, 16, during the incident, resulting in Ajani sustaining a head injury allegedly inflicted with a broken bottle.

The police further alleged that following the incident, some supporters of Ajani, identified as Sodiq Yusuf, 36, and Olagoke Kolawole, 35, alongside others still at large, invaded Arowolo’s shop and allegedly assaulted her.

The woman was reportedly injured on her face and other parts of her body and subsequently admitted to a hospital for treatment.

The Command also said that Doris Ayetimiyi, 19, a daughter of Arowolo, allegedly engaged in a confrontation with Ajani and some customers at the shop after seeing her mother being assaulted.

The police said five suspects were arrested in connection with the alleged offences of assault occasioning harm, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and affray.

The suspects were identified as Sodiq Yusuf, 36; Olagoke Kolawole, 35; Ajani Saheed, 41; Samuel Ayetimiyi, 16; and Doris Ayetimiyi, 19.

The Command said investigation was ongoing and that the suspects would be charged to court upon its conclusion.

The police consequently maintained that contrary to the allegation of inaction, the matter had been investigated and arrests made, urging members of the public to disregard accounts that did not reflect the circumstances of the case as established by the Command’s investigation.