OSUN POLICE DECLARE TWO EX-NURTW CHIEFS, ALOWONLE, SIBI WANTED OVER EMIR’S MURDER

Opeyemi Akinyemi, Osogbo, Osun State 

The Osun State Police Command has declared two former chieftains of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Nurudeen Alowonle and Olayemi Ojo, popularly known as “Sibi,” wanted in connection with the death of Olamilekan Ajagungbade, also known as “Emir.”

Speaking while parading the suspects at the Osun State Police Command headquarters in Osogbo on Monday, the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, said the command had arrested six suspects in connection with the murder of Emir Ajagungbade.

It would be recalled that Emir Ajagungbade was reportedly killed by masked gunmen on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at Mayfair Motor Park in Ile-Ife, Osun State, amid a reported succession dispute among members of the transport union.

Zungura said investigations by the police homicide section led to the arrest of two NURTW members, Waliu Adejare, aka Jay Jay, Chairman of Aregbe Park, Osogbo, and Hammed Dauda, aka Jagaban, the park’s secretary.

Four personnel of the Osun State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun, were also arrested in connection with the incident. They are Tijani Ismail, Akinsola Ekundayo, Sijuade Moruf and Ayeni Adegbola.

The police commissioner said the arrests were made following investigations, with assistance from the state’s Amotekun commandant.

He added that Dauda allegedly confessed that the cut-to-size firearm found in his possession had been given to him by Alowonle. The four Amotekun personnel, according to the police, had been seconded to provide security for the former NURTW chairman.

Zungura said further investigations led to Adejare’s arrest, adding that the suspects were allegedly mobilised by Alowonle and Ojo.

“Alowonle and others have been declared wanted, while Amotekun officials are assisting the police in uncovering atrocities committed in the community,” he said.

One of the arrested Amotekun personnel, Sijuade Moruf, told journalists that his team had been directed by Alowonle to travel to Ile-Ife on the day of the killing.

“We were mobilised by Alowonle to go to Ile-Ife. He said we would meet at the park, but on getting to the park, we did not meet him. While we were waiting, some guys came in with guns.

“Few minutes later, the guys started shooting and we ran for safety before our vehicle had an accident on the road,” Moruf said.

Meanwhile, the police commissioner paraded Oniyefa Olayemi in connection with the killing of four persons during a violent clash between rival groups at Alapa village, along Toro Road, Ile-Ife.

Zungura also disclosed that the command had arrested six suspected armed robbers accused of terrorising residents of Osun and Oyo states.

The suspects were identified as Olaiya Sunday, 27; Akintunde Mariam, 28; Agoro Kudus, 27; Timileyin Idowu, 23; Adekunle Ibrahim, 30; and Temitope Opeyemi, 29.

According to the commissioner, the suspects allegedly stole motorcycles and mobile phones from unsuspecting residents using fake firearms before selling the stolen items to associates in Ibadan and Lagos.

The police said investigations into the various cases were ongoing.

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