Osun State Police Command has declared a factional chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Nurudeen Alowonle, wanted over the murder of Olalekan Oyeyemi, popularly known as Emir.
Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Zungura made the declaration on Monday while parading suspects arrested for various offences at the command headquarters in Osogbo.
Zungura said six suspects had been arrested in connection with Emir’s killing, which occurred on September 13 at a motor park in Ile-Ife.
According to him, those in police custody include Alowonle’s Personal Assistant, Waliyu Adejare, as well as an operative of the Osun Amotekun Corps.
The commissioner also said the police were intensifying efforts to arrest another NURTW chief, Adeyemi Ojo, popularly known as Sibi, over the killing.
He said preliminary investigations and confessions obtained from suspects indicated that they were allegedly mobilised by Alowonle and Ojo to carry out the attack.
Zungura identified the suspects currently in custody as Tijani Ismail, Akinsola Ekundayo, Sijuade Moruf, Ayeni Adegbola, Hammed Dada and Waliyu Adejare.
He said investigations led to the arrest of Hammed Olalekan Dauda, also known as Jagaban, who was allegedly involved in the killing and was found in possession of a cut-to-size firearm.
“During interrogation, he confessed that the firearm was given to him by one Nurudeen Alowonle,” Zungura said.
He added that subsequent investigations resulted in the arrest of Adejare, also known as Jay Jay, who serves as Alowonle’s personal assistant.
“All the suspects were mobilised by Nurudeen Alowonle and Adeyemi Ojo aka Sibi,” the commissioner said.
“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.”
Meanwhile, the police also arrested a suspect, Oniyefa Olayemi, in connection with the killing of four people during a violent clash between rival groups at Alapa Village, Toro Road, Ile-Ife.
Zungura said the incident was linked to a dispute over control of a large cocoa farm in the area.
He said the victims were identified as Toyin Olagbaju, Emmanuel Agunbiade, Akeem and Ademola, popularly known as Small.
According to the police commissioner, a complainant from Odo Ogbe, Ile-Ife, reported at Police ‘B’ Division, Modakeke, that armed men invaded Alapa Village between October 4 and 5 and opened fire, killing his 40-year-old mother, Olagbaju.
“Following the report, detectives from the Homicide Section of the Command swung into action and commenced an investigation into the incident,” he said.
Preliminary findings, Zungura said, showed that two rival groups were engaged in a violent dispute over control of the cocoa farm.
One of the groups was allegedly led by Awosunle Tosin, who remains at large, while the other was reportedly led by Agunbiade, also known as Abore.
The clash reportedly resulted in multiple casualties.
Police detectives who visited the scene also recovered evidence indicating the use of different firearms and ammunition during the violence.
Recovered exhibits included two dane guns, a small axe, 11 expended cartridges, one live cartridge and three empty shells of AK-47 rifle ammunition, among other items.
Olayemi, according to the police, is assisting investigators as the probe continues.
Zungura assured residents that the command would sustain efforts to curb criminal activities and maintain law and order across Osun State.
He urged residents to continue supporting the police by providing useful information that could assist investigations and help prevent further criminal activities.
The Osun Amotekun Corps had earlier disclosed that it handed over four of its operatives to the police to assist investigations into Emir’s death.
