The Ogun State Police Command has deployed more than 2,500 officers and personnel across Ijebu Ode and adjoining communities as part of comprehensive security measures for the 2026 Ojude Oba Festival scheduled for Friday.
The Command said the massive deployment was aimed at ensuring a peaceful, safe and hitch-free celebration during the annual cultural festival, which attracts thousands of visitors, dignitaries and tourists from across Nigeria and beyond.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the spokesperson of the command, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the security personnel were drawn from various tactical and conventional units, including the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Monitoring Unit, Force Intelligence Department and other specialised operational squads.
“In line with this proactive operational strategy, the Command has deployed over 2,500 police personnel, including conventional officers and tactical teams, across Ijebu Ode and adjoining communities where the festival will be celebrated,” Babaseyi stated.
He explained that the deployment also includes Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), patrol vehicles, police motorcycles, surveillance teams, undercover operatives and rapid-response units stationed at strategic locations.
According to him, security operatives have been positioned around the Ojude Oba Pavilion, major highways, entry and exit points, hotels, worship centres, recreational facilities, motor parks, markets and residential areas expected to experience heavy human and vehicular movement during the celebration.
Babaseyi said the operation was designed to ensure effective crowd management, intelligence-driven policing, traffic control, anti-crime patrols, visibility policing, early threat detection and rapid response to any security situation before, during and after the festival.
He disclosed that the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Bode Ojajuni, had directed Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Tactical Commanders across the state to remain on maximum alert throughout the celebration period.
According to the police spokesperson, officers have also been ordered to intensify patrols, conduct strategic stop-and-search operations and maintain round-the-clock supervision within their jurisdictions.
He added that special attention had been focused on critical routes such as the Sagamu Interchange, Ijebu Ode-Benin Expressway, Molipa axis and neighbouring communities to prevent criminal activities, traffic disruptions and threats to public peace.
The Command further stressed that all deployed officers had been directed to carry out their responsibilities professionally while respecting the rights of law-abiding citizens.
“As part of efforts to strengthen security coordination, Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers have been directed to work closely with traditional rulers, community leaders, transport unions, event organisers and other stakeholders to enhance intelligence gathering and ensure seamless security operations during the festival,” the statement added.
The police also warned criminal elements to stay away from the state, stressing that the command was fully prepared to deal decisively with anyone attempting to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere of the event.
Residents, visitors and festival participants were urged to remain vigilant and law-abiding, while parents and guardians were advised to monitor the activities of their children and wards.
Members of the public were equally encouraged to promptly report suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station or through the command’s emergency lines.
Reaffirming the Command’s commitment to public safety, Ojajuni assured residents and visitors of adequate protection of lives and property throughout the Eid-el-Kabir festivities and the Ojude Oba celebrations.
Ojude Oba is an annual cultural festival celebrated by the Ijebu people shortly after Eid-el-Kabir and is regarded as one of Nigeria’s biggest cultural gatherings.
