Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A young man identified only as Success has lost his life following alleged torture by operatives of the So‑Safe Corps, a state‑owned security outfit in Ogun State, after his mother reportedly summoned the officers to intervene in a domestic altercation. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, 30 May 2026, along Coca‑Cola Road in the Oju‑Ore area of the state, has sparked outrage on social media and renewed calls for stricter oversight of quasi‑security agencies.
According to eyewitness accounts and posts circulating on Facebook, the tragedy began as a disagreement between Success and his mother at their home. During the altercation, Success reportedly sustained a head injury and was seen bleeding. The mother then called the So‑Safe Corps for assistance. Instead of de‑escalating the situation or transferring the young man to a police station, the officers allegedly took him to an unfinished building in the Oju‑Ore area, where he was physically assaulted.
A Facebook user, Temitope Adeniyi, claimed that the security officers beat Success to death. “He had a fight with his mother, so she reported him to the So‑Safe. The next thing, they took him to an unfinished building and beat him to death,” Adeniyi wrote. Another social media post from Ota Gossip detailed that after the mother called for help, So‑Safe operatives were summoned. “Eyewitness accounts and videos shared online indicate that the young man was later removed from the area. However, community allegations suggest that rather than being taken into official custody, he was instead taken to an abandoned building in the Oju‑Ore area, where he was physically assaulted,” the post read.
The So‑Safe Corps, officially known as the Ogun State Community, Social Orientation and Safety Corps, is a state‑established security outfit tasked with complementing the efforts of the police in crime prevention and community safety. However, the agency has faced criticism in the past over allegations of extrajudicial conduct and lack of proper training.
Confirming the incident on Monday, 1 June 2026, the spokesperson for the So‑Safe Corps, Adegunwa Adegbuyi, said the officers involved had been handed over to the police. Adegbuyi condemned the officers’ actions, stating that they had acted outside the organisation’s standard operating procedures. “The mother called us for assistance, and some of our temporary staff responded. They were supposed to follow protocol, but unfortunately, they took matters into their own hands. As soon as the case was reported, we handed them over to the Nigerian Police Force because the Commandant does not tolerate any form of human rights violations. We first handed over one suspect, and after a few hours, we handed over the second suspect to the police for appropriate legal action. We are collaborating with the police to ensure justice is served,” Adegbuyi said. He added that the So‑Safe Commander, Soji Ganzalo, has consistently warned officers against human rights abuses and interference in civil matters.
The Ogun State Police Command has not yet issued a formal statement on the incident. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Babaseyi Oluseyi, did not respond to inquiries as of the time of this report. It remains unclear whether the two officers handed over to the police have been charged or are still under investigation.
The death of Success is the latest in a series of incidents involving alleged brutality by state‑backed security outfits in Nigeria. In a separate development, the Imo State Police Command recently arrested three students of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, in connection with the murder of a 21‑year‑old undergraduate who was allegedly beaten to death by members of the university’s Man O’ War organisation over an accusation of stealing N13,500. That incident sparked violent protests on campus, with students burning buildings and damaging property.
Human rights activists have called for a thorough investigation into the death of Success and for the prosecution of the officers involved. They argue that the case highlights the dangers of allowing quasi‑security personnel to operate without adequate oversight, particularly when handling domestic disputes. “A mother who called for help should not be the reason her son is dead. The officers exceeded their mandate, and they must be held accountable,” a community leader who spoke on condition of anonymity told Stone Reporters News.
As of Wednesday, 3 June 2026, the body of Success has not been released to his family, and no official autopsy has been announced. The family is reportedly making arrangements for a post‑mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death. Meanwhile, the Ogun State Government has not issued any statement on the incident. The So‑Safe Corps has promised full cooperation with the police investigation and has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that any officer found guilty of human rights violations faces the full weight of the law.
For the residents of Oju‑Ore, the death of a young man in the hands of those meant to protect the community has left a bitter taste. As one neighbour put it: “He was not a criminal. He was a son who had a fight with his mother. That should never be a death sentence.”
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