Adeleke’s associate ‘Emir’ killed as NURTW factions clash in Ile-Ife

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

A peace meeting between two factional groups involved in the management of motor parks in Osun State turned violent on Sunday as an aide and associate of Governor Ademola Adeleke, Olalekan Oyeyemi, popularly known as Emir, was killed in Ile-Ife.

Oyeyemi had reportedly gone to Ile-Ife for a meeting with members of the faction loyal to Nurudeen Alowonle, chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

The meeting, held around the Mayfair area, was said to have involved the leadership of public transport operators known as Korope, with the chairman of the mini-bus operators, identified as Sobi, leading the Alowonle faction.

According to information gathered, the situation reportedly escalated after members of the Alowonle group learnt of an alleged plan by the state government to proscribe the NURTW and appoint Emir as chairman of the park system.

The development was said to have angered members of the group, prompting the mobilisation of additional men to the meeting venue, where a fracas reportedly broke out.

However, masked gunmen reportedly stormed the venue during the meeting and shot Oyeyemi in the head. An eyewitness said the incident caused panic, forcing members of both the Alowonle and Emir groups to flee the scene.

It was gathered that some of those mobilised to the scene had an accident in front of the Obafemi Awolowo University campus, and one of them was reportedly killed.

Following the killing, members of Emir’s group reportedly stormed his base in Osogbo to protest the incident, raising concerns about heightened tension in the area.