UNILORIN Lecturer Olorunsuwa Arrested At 5am, Sources Say Police Took Him Towards Kogi

A lecturer at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Chief Elijah Ola Olorunsuwa, was reportedly arrested at his residence in Ilorin, Kwara State, in the early hours of Wednesday.

According to information made available to Sahara Reporters, Olorunsuwa was reportedly arrested at about 5:00 a.m. by a team of police officers who arrived at his residence in a black Hilux vehicle.

The reason for his arrest was not immediately known as of the time of filing this report.

Sources familiar with the development claimed that about eight police officers were involved in the operation and that Olorunsuwa was subsequently taken away from Ilorin.

The sources further alleged that the lecturer and the officers were heading towards Kogi State following the arrest.

Monday Job Sesere, a public commentator and youth leader from Kogi State, who confirmed the development, alleged that the arrest was ordered by Kogi State Security Adviser, Jerry Omodara.

The claim could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report, and it was not immediately clear what offence, if any, the lecturer was being investigated for.

Olorunsuwa is a lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the University of Ilorin, where his academic interests include comparative politics, elections, political parties, legislative governance, federalism and Nigerian politics and government. The university's official profile lists him as a lecturer in the department.

He is also the National Publicity Secretary of the University of Ilorin Alumni Association, having been elected into the position in August 2024.

Olorunsuwa has also been publicly involved in political commentary and community affairs relating to Kogi State.

In February 2025, the Kogi State Government identified him as President of the Oke-Offin Development Association during the inauguration of community projects in Oke-Offin, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area.

His reported arrest comes amid heightened political activity in Kogi State ahead of the 2027 elections.

Sahara Reporters could also not independently establish whether Olorunsuwa had been formally detained, the police station to which he was being taken, or whether any charge had been filed against him.

Contacted by SaharaReporters, the Kwara State Police Command's spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said she was not aware of the reported arrest.

She noted, however, that if the arrest did take place, "I am sure that it was not done illegally. The policemen from Kogi would have fulfilled all the protocols for interstate arrest."

Ejire-Adeyemi directed Sahara Reporters to the Kogi command for further details on the arrest.

Sahara Reporters' efforts to reach the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, were unsuccessful, as her phone number was unreachable.

A text message sent to her verified phone number seeking clarification on the reported arrest had not been delivered as at the time of filing this report.