Tension in Osun as Amotekun allegedly kills villagers, residents demand justice

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

Residents of Akinlalu in Ife North Local Government Area of Osun State have accused operatives of the Amotekun Corps of twisting the truth after allegedly gunning down three villagers, including two siblings and their relative, and later claiming they were ambushed by hoodlums.

The people, who dismissed Amotekun’s version of events and demanded justice for the dead, said the corps returned to the community on Tuesday, shooting sporadically, killing innocent people and injuring several others.

Speaking with journalists in Osogbo on Wednesday, spokesperson for the community, Olamide Babarinde, said the crisis began on Monday when Amotekun operatives arrested a suspected thief in a neighbouring village, Aba Oba, and brought him to Akinlalu where his father lived.

According to him, the suspect allegedly overpowered the officers during the arrest, forcing them to leave after a scuffle.

Babarinde further alleged that when the operatives returned the following day (Tuesday), they opened fire on harmless residents, including farmers returning from their fields, traders in their shops, and passersby, insisting that there were no armed assailants or ambush as claimed by Amotekun.

According to him, “There was no armed person or gunmen as claimed by Amotekun. They alleged our people were hoodlums, but Akinlalu is known for hardworking, peaceful and loving people. Such a thing has never happened in Akinlalu before. So far, three people have died as a result of the attack. Those they shot, they still came around and took them away. Some did not die on the spot, but three people were confirmed dead. While some were taken to the hospital, others were taken away. I don’t know whether they are dead or alive now.”

The community therefore called for the prosecution of the officers involved, arguing that Amotekun had no justification to use government-issued arms against innocent villagers. “We don’t want them again. They are using the guns that government bought with taxpayers’ money to kill the people. We want the corps involved in the attack prosecuted,” they declared.

Meanwhile, the Osun State Police Command confirmed the incident, stating that three persons — Ibrahim Oyebamiji (26), Sefiu Oyebamiji, and Abiola Olutayo — were killed, while three others sustained bullet injuries. Police operatives recovered 13 expended cartridges from the scene and evacuated the injured victims to hospitals.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, has ordered the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Osogbo to take over the case for a discreet investigation, assuring that all claims and counterclaims will be carefully examined to ensure justice.