The Osun State Police Command has declared a factional chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Nurudeen Alowonle, wanted over the killing of a transport union figure, Olalekan Oyeyemi, popularly known as Emir.
The state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, announced the development on Monday while briefing journalists on arrests made in connection with several criminal cases across the state.
He said six suspects had been arrested over Emir’s death, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend Alowonle, another NURTW chief, Adeyemi Ojo, popularly known as Sibi, and other persons allegedly linked to the killing.
Oyeyemi was reportedly killed on September 13 at a motor park in Ile-Ife.
The circumstances surrounding his death have drawn the attention of the police, who are investigating the alleged involvement of individuals connected to the transport union and other security-related groups.
According to Zungura, preliminary findings and statements obtained from some of the suspects indicated that the arrested individuals were allegedly mobilised by Alowonle and Ojo to carry out the attack.
The commissioner stressed that the investigation was continuing and that the police were working to establish the roles played by those already in custody and those still at large.
Among the suspects mentioned by the police were Tijani Ismail, Akinsola Ekundayo, Sijuade Moruf, Ayeni Adegbola, Hammed Dada and Waliyu Adejare.
One of the suspects, Hammed Olalekan Dauda, also known as Jagaban, was allegedly found with a locally made, cut-to-size firearm during the investigation.
Zungura said the suspect reportedly identified Alowonle as the person who supplied the weapon.
“During interrogation, he reportedly confessed that the firearm was given to him by one Nurudeen Alowonle. Subsequent investigations also resulted in the arrest of Waliu Adejare, aka Jay Jay, a personal assistant to Nurudeen Alowonle, in connection with the incident. All the suspects were mobilised by Nurudeen Alowonle and Adeyemi Ojo, aka Sibi.
“Alowonle is declared wanted. The command is intensifying efforts to apprehend Nurudeen Alowonle, Adeyemi Ojo, aka Sibi, and other suspects currently at large who are alleged to have participated in the heinous crime.”
The commissioner did not indicate when the two NURTW figures would be arrested but assured residents that the command was pursuing the case.
The allegations against the suspects remain subject to further police investigation and the judicial process.
The case has also involved the Osun Amotekun Corps. The state security outfit had earlier disclosed that it handed over four of its operatives to the police to assist with investigations into Emir’s killing.
The development added another dimension to the inquiry, as the police sought to determine the circumstances of the incident and establish whether any security personnel had relevant information about the killing.
The police have not announced a conclusion to the investigation, and the declaration of Alowonle wanted does not in itself establish criminal guilt.
Authorities are expected to continue gathering evidence and questioning suspects as they pursue those who remain at large.
The police commissioner said the arrests followed investigations by the command’s homicide unit, with assistance from the Amotekun command.
He also confirmed that another NURTW leader, Ojo Adeyemi, popularly known as Sibi, was being sought over the incident.
The killing of Emir, an Accord Party chieftain and political associate of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, occurred at Mayfair Motor Park in Ile-Ife.
He was reportedly killed during a violent confrontation involving individuals linked to the transport union.
Oyeyemi was said to have been preparing for an appointment as chairman of the Park Management System, a proposed arrangement by the state government to take over the management of public motor parks from the NURTW.
His death prompted calls for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack and the identities of those responsible.
Following the incident, Governor Adeleke directed that the killing be investigated.
