The Ogun State Police Command has deployed more than 2,500 security personnel across Ijebu Ode and surrounding communities ahead of the 2026 Ojude Oba festival scheduled for Friday.
The command said the massive deployment forms part of measures to ensure adequate security and maintain public order during the annual cultural celebration, which attracts thousands of visitors from within and outside Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the command’s spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed that officers were drawn from various tactical and intelligence units, including the Police Mobile Force, SWAT, Violent Crime Response Unit, Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Monitoring Unit and the Force Intelligence Department.
According to Babaseyi, the security operation also includes the deployment of Armoured Personnel Carriers, patrol vans, police motorcycles, surveillance teams, undercover operatives and rapid response squads strategically positioned across key locations in Ijebu Ode and adjoining communities.
He explained that security personnel had been stationed at the Ojude Oba Pavilion, major highways, entry and exit points, hotels, worship centres, recreational facilities, motor parks, markets and residential areas expected to witness heavy movement during the festival.
“In line with this proactive operational strategy, the Command has deployed over 2,500 police personnel, including conventional officers and tactical teams drawn from the Police Mobile Force (PMF), SWAT, Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Monitoring Unit, Force Intelligence Department, and other specialized operational units across Ijebu Ode and adjoining communities where the festival will be celebrated within Ogun State,” the statement read.
The police said the operation was designed to guarantee effective crowd control, intelligence-led policing, traffic management, anti-crime patrols, visibility policing, early threat detection and rapid response to emergencies before, during and after the celebration.
Babaseyi further stated that the Commissioner of Police had directed all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Tactical Commanders to remain on maximum alert throughout the festival period.
“The Commissioner of Police has directed all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, and Tactical Commanders to remain on maximum alert and sustain aggressive patrols, strategic stop-and-search operations, and round-the-clock supervision of personnel within their Areas of Responsibility,” he said.
The command added that special security attention had been focused on strategic locations and routes, including the Sagamu Interchange, Ijebu Ode–Benin Expressway and the Molipa axis, to prevent criminal activities, traffic congestion and any threat to public peace.
Police authorities also instructed officers involved in the operation to maintain professionalism and respect the rights of residents and visitors while carrying out their duties.
The command urged traditional rulers, community leaders, transport unions, event organisers and other stakeholders to cooperate with security agencies by strengthening intelligence sharing and coordination throughout the festival.
The police warned criminal elements to stay away from the state, stressing that security operatives were fully prepared to deal decisively with anyone attempting to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the event.
Residents, tourists and festival participants were also advised to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest police station or through the command’s emergency channels.
Parents and guardians were further urged to monitor the movements and activities of their children and wards during the festive period.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, reassured residents and visitors of the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property throughout the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations and the Ojude Oba festival.
Ojude Oba is an annual cultural festival celebrated by the Ijebu people of Ogun State shortly after Eid-el-Kabir.
The event is renowned for its colourful displays, horse-riding processions and rich cultural heritage, attracting dignitaries, tourists and traditional rulers from across Nigeria and beyond.
