Police vow to fish out killer Amotekun officials

Osun State Police Command has said it will ensure those involved in the mayhem that occurred in Akinlalu, a community in Ife North Local Government Area of the state, where operatives of Osun Amotekun Corps killed three people, were apprehended and prosecuted.

The spokesperson for the Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, while giving updates on the incident during an interview with Saturday on Friday, explained that the Amotekun men involved in the killing had been identified.

Ojelabi also said the Command had met with representatives of the community, promising that the investigation into the incident would be thorough.

“We met the affected people in the community, and they have given us their statement, and we are still investigating,” Ojelabi said.

Asked if the Amotekun operatives involved in the killings had been invited, the Osun Police Public Relations Officer further said, “Some of them have been identified, and there is no place to hide. Many of them are on the run, but definitely we will get them, except they leave Osun State.”

The reports that Residents of Akinlalu, a community in Ife North Local Government Area of Osun State, accused the operatives of Amotekun Corps of killing three residents when they invaded the town on Tuesday.

The Akinlalu residents, who spoke to our correspondent, said the Amotekun men acted without provocation and took away the corpses of the deceased after the attack.

They also said about 10 people also sustained gunshots injury in the attack and were admitted for treatment in hospitals in Ipetumodu, Gbongan and Yakooyo.

Recalling the incident that led to the attack, an indigene of Akinlalu Kamardeen Babarinde, said some farmers in Aba Oba, a village under the community, invited Amotekun operatives to recieve some suspected thieves that allegedly stole Cocoa beans, that the villagers arrested.

He further said, “That was on Monday, and the Amotekun men sent their operatives to Aba Oba. But those suspected thieves while being moved from Aba Oba to Akinlalu, engaged in physical struggle with those Amotekun operatives that came to recieve them from the villagers that arrested them.

“During that incident, one of the suspected thieves and an Amotekun sustained injury. That happened on Monday. Immediately the news of that incident reached the community, the head of community youth went to the Amotekun office and they settled the matter. In the morning on Tuesday, these Amotekun men came back to Akinlalu and met Olori Odo (Head of Community Youth) and others.

 The meeting delibrately on the incident that occurred on Monday and they resolved it.”

He continued, “But in the afternoon same Tuesday, between 12:00 and 1:00pm, Amotekun men returned to Akinlalu and shot sporadically. I was close to the scene of the incident. Women, children and youth they saw on the road were shot. The suspects that had issues to them on Monday are sons to an ex military personnel living in Akinlalu. Instead of going to the man’s house, they attacked everyone they saw on the streets. They shot unarmed people.

“About 14 people were shot, but three of them were critically injured. The Amotekun men involved in the attack Hurriedly left the scene, and few minutes later, when people had come out to help those that were shot, these Amotekun operatives came back and forcibly took away those that were critically injured. All the four eventually died, among them are two men from the same mother.

In the Tuesday incident, no Amotekun operative was attacked. The manner they acted suggested that Osun State Government had hired criminals as Amotekun operatives. This must be investigated. Our town is in mourning. The Amotekun people lied in their release . I am from Akinlalu and I was in the town when the incident happened. I witnessed it. Those that they killed are; Oyebamiji Ibrahim, Ismail, and Olutayo Abiola. Two of the deceased are from the same parents.”

Another resident of Akinlalu, simply identified as Jeleel, who also claimed to be close to the scene of the Wednesday incident, said Amotekun men came in three vans and shot unarmed people.

He also said the incident was reported at the Ipetumodu Division of the Nigerian Police Force and implored the appropriate authorities to ensure those involved in the attack are identified and punished.

Earlier, The reports that the management of Osun Amotekun Corps, said three people were killed during a clash between its operatives and some suspected hoodlums in Akinlalu.

The security organisation in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Idowu Yusuf, obtained in Osogbo on Tuesday, said the hoodlums had earlier ambushed its men responding to distress call in Akinlalu, and forcibly took three rifles from them.

Yusuf also said the back up team sent to the scene was also attacked by the hoodlums at Akinlalu junction, leading to exchange of gunfight after which three people lost their lives.

“The incident occurred on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, and resulted in a deadly confrontation between the corps and suspected armed hoodlums.

According to official reports, the operatives were dispatched from the Amotekun Command in Ile-Ife following an emergency call from Akinlalu residents, who reported a group of suspected bandits invaded farmlands in the area. Acting swiftly, four Amotekun operatives mobilised on motorcycles to address the situation and ensure the safety of the local population.

“Tragically, while en route to Akinlalu, the team was ambushed by armed assailants, suspected to be the same group terrorizing the community. During the sudden attack, two service rifles belonging to the Amotekun Corps were forcibly taken by the assailants,” Yusuf said.

Giving further accounts of what transpired, the Osun Amotekun spokesperson, added “Upon receiving news of the ambush, reinforcement operatives were deployed and approached Akinlalu with the intention of engaging peacefully, including paying a courtesy visit to the traditional ruler of the town.

“However, at the T-junction leading into Akinlalu, the road was found barricaded by the assailants, who immediately opened fire on the operatives, triggering a fierce gun battle that lasted for over an hour.

“Despite the intensity of the attack, the Amotekun operatives successfully overpowered the assailants. In the aftermath of the encounter, three lives were confirmed lost, including individuals believed to be among the attackers. Three arrested while several others sustained injuries and fled the scene.”

The Corps also said it recovered from hideout of the suspected hoodlums two firearms stolen during the ambush, along with security uniforms and berets.

Cupped from punch.