A man suspected to be mentally unwell has been apprehended by the Ogun State Police Command after allegedly damaging the Agemo statue at the Itoro Roundabout in Ijebu Ode on Saturday.
The incident was confirmed in a statement issued on Sunday by the command’s spokesperson, CSP Omolola Odutola, in Abeokuta.
The Agemo figure is deeply revered in Ijebu culture, representing a major deity within the traditional belief system.
According to Odutola, the suspect defaced the cultural monument by removing the statue’s crown, an act considered highly disrespectful to the local tradition.
The missing crown was later recovered and is now secured at the Obalende Police Station in Ijebu Ode.
She noted that the swift arrival of law enforcement officers at the scene helped maintain peace and avoid any escalation of tension among worshippers and residents.
“The individual is currently undergoing a psychological assessment as he is showing signs of mental instability,” Odutola said.
She further assured that Ijebu Ode remains peaceful and that investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the act.