By Ade Oyeyemi
The Osun State Police Command has declared a factional chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Nurudeen Alowonle, wanted over the killing of a transport union leader, Olalekan Oyeyemi, popularly known as Emir.
The state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, announced this on Monday while parading suspects arrested for various offences at the command headquarters in Osogbo.
Zungura disclosed that six suspects had been arrested in connection with Emir’s murder, which occurred on September 13 at a motor park in Ile-Ife.
He said those arrested included Alowonle’s personal assistant and an operative of the state-owned Amotekun Corps, adding that efforts were ongoing to apprehend Alowonle and another NURTW chief, Ojo Adeyemi, who are allegedly linked to the crime.
According to the police commissioner, statements obtained from some of the suspects indicated that they were allegedly mobilised by the two union figures to carry out the killing.
The suspects in custody were identified as Tijani Ismail, Akinsola Ekundayo, Sijuade Moruf, Ayeni Adegbola, Hammed Dada and Waliyu Adejare.
Zungura said the investigation led to the arrest of Hammed Olalekan Dauda, also known as Jagaban, who was allegedly involved in the killing and found with a locally modified firearm.
He added that Dauda reportedly told investigators that Alowonle gave him the weapon, while further inquiries led to the arrest of Waliyu Adejare, also known as Jay Jay, identified as Alowonle’s personal assistant.
“During interrogation, he reportedly confessed that the firearm was given to him by one Nurudeen Alowonle. Subsequent investigations also resulted in the arrest of Waliu Adejare, aka Jay Jay, a personal assistant to Nurudeen Alowonle, in connection with the incident. All the suspects were mobilised by Nurudeen Alowonle and Adeyemi Ojo aka Sibi,” the commissioner said.
He added that the police had launched efforts to arrest the two men and other suspects still at large.
“Alowonle is declared wanted. The Command is intensifying efforts to apprehend Nurudeen Alowonle, Adeyemi Ojo aka Sibi, and other suspects currently at large who are alleged to have participated in the heinous crime,” Zungura stated.
Police Arrest Suspect Over Ile-Ife Clash That Killed Four
In a separate case, the police commissioner announced the arrest of a suspect, Oniyefa Olayemi, over a violent clash between rival groups at Alapa village along Toro Road in Ile-Ife, which reportedly left four people dead.
Zungura said the violence followed a dispute between two groups over control of a large cocoa farm in the community.
He identified the deceased as Toyin Olagbaju, Emmanuel Agunbiade, Akeem and Ademola, popularly known as Small.
According to him, the police received a report on October 5 that armed men had invaded Alapa village between October 4 and 5, firing indiscriminately and killing Olagbaju, a 40-year-old woman.
The commissioner said detectives from the command’s homicide section began an investigation after receiving the report.
He added that preliminary findings linked the violence to a dispute involving two rival groups allegedly led by Awosunle Tosin, who remains at large, and Emmanuel Agunbiade, also known as Abore.
“Following the report, detectives from the Homicide Section of the Command swung into action and commenced an investigation into the incident. Preliminary findings revealed that two rival groups, allegedly led by one Awosunle Tosin, who is currently at large, and Emmanuel Agunbiade, also known as Abore, were engaged in a violent dispute over the control of a vast cocoa farm situated at Alapa Village. The clash reportedly resulted in multiple casualties,” he said.
Zungura said Olayemi had been arrested and was assisting investigators, while detectives recovered several items believed to be connected to the violence.
The recovered exhibits included two dane guns, a small axe, 11 expended cartridges, one live cartridge and three empty AK-47 ammunition shells, among other items.
The police commissioner assured residents that the command would continue its operations against criminal activities and urged members of the public to provide useful information to security agencies.
The development follows an earlier announcement by the Osun Amotekun Corps that it had handed over four of its operatives to the police to assist with investigations into Emir’s killing.
