TICC demands arrest of suspect over teenager’s killing in Osun

As victim’s father recounts incident

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

The Imole Campaign Council (TICC) on Monday called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of a suspect identified as Saheed Kareem, popularly known as “Tanfeani,” following the killing of a 14-year-old boy, Ezekiel Olapade, during a violent attack in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State.

Addressing a press conference in Osogbo, the Director-General of the council, Senator Kamarudeen Olalere Oyewumi, described the incident as a tragic consequence of rising political violence in the state and urged security agencies to take decisive action against those responsible.

The council alleged that the attack was carried out by a gang led by Kareem, adding that the assailants had earlier invaded the Irepodun Local Government Secretariat and attacked facilities within the premises, including the office of the Amotekun Corps.

Oyewumi called on the Inspector-General of Police to order the immediate arrest and prosecution of all those connected with the killing and to launch a comprehensive investigation into reported cases of political violence across the state.

The campaign council also expressed dissatisfaction with the Osun State Police Command, alleging that repeated incidents of violence had weakened public confidence in its ability to tackle political crimes effectively.

Recounting the incident, the victim’s father, Olugbemiga Olapade, alleged that the attackers, led by Saheed Kareem, arrived in a branded vehicle of one of the gubernatorial candidates in the state on Sunday around 3:00 p.m.

He said, “I was at my wife’s shop with my son and some customers when the thugs in an AMBO-branded vehicle came. Initially, they attempted to enter the council, but when they saw a man wearing a yellow cap at the shop, they opened fire. Everyone ran for safety, but my wife fell and my son went back to rescue her. It was during that process that he was shot. I did not know he had been hit until hours later when we found his body in the bush”.

Confirming the incident, Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan said the command had identified the principal suspect linked to the attack but that he had not yet been arrested.