Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has redeployed the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Wilfred Afolabi.

The spokesman for the Ondo police, Ayanlade Olayinka, confirmed Mr Afolabi’s redeployment in a chat with Peoples Gazette on Sunday.

“Yes, the CP, Wilfred Afolabi, has been redeployed, and a new man is now at the helm of affairs. We shall get back with official details later,” Mr Olayinka said.

Meanwhile, a source in the Ondo Police Command told Peoples Gazette Mr Afolabi was redeployed over the recent June 12 protest carried out in the state by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore.

“The offence of the CP was because he refused to tame Yele (Sowore), who had the audacity to storm the police headquarters command to request an investigation into an attack on him and his supporters by some armed thugs believed to have been sponsored by the state government,” the source stated.

Also, a senior police officer and an ally of the CP stated that Mr Afolabi had been reassigned as the Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration at the Department of Training and Development (DTD) at the Force Headquarters.

Asked about what possibly led to Mr Afolabi’s redeployment, the senior officer said, “I can’t really say, but I think it is the case of the man called Sowore.”

“The IGP was not happy that the police command, under Afolabi, could not do anything to stop his excesses when he protested here in Akure a few weeks ago. I was told the IGP was even planning his quick retirement, but I guess it could raise more dust,” he said.

Mr Afolabi did not immediately respond to calls seeking comments on his redeployment when contacted on Sunday at noon.