Police hunt Osun NURTW boss over Emir’s killing

The Osun State Police Command has declared a factional chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Nurudeen Alowonle, wanted over the murder of rival union figure Olalekan Oyeyemi, popularly known as Emir.

The state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, disclosed this on Monday while parading suspects arrested for various crimes at the command headquarters in Osogbo.

Zungura said six suspects had been arrested in connection with Emir’s killing at a motor park in Ile-Ife on September 13, including an alleged personal assistant to Alowonle and an operative of the Amotekun Corps.

He said the police were also pursuing another NURTW chief, Ojo Adeyemi, popularly known as Sibi, over the killing.

According to the police commissioner, investigations and statements obtained from suspects indicated that they were allegedly mobilised by Alowonle and Adeyemi to carry out the attack.

Among those arrested are Tijani Ismail, Akinsola Ekundayo, Sijuade Moruf, Ayeni Adegbola, Hammed Dada and Waliyu Adejare.

Zungura said investigations led to the arrest of Hammed Olalekan Dauda, also known as Jagaban, who was allegedly found with a locally modified firearm.

He said Dauda reportedly told investigators that Alowonle had given him the weapon. The police subsequently arrested Waliyu Adejare, also known as Jay Jay, identified as Alowonle’s personal assistant.

“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,” Zungura said.

The commissioner also announced the arrest of Oniyefa Olayemi in connection with the killing of four people during a violent clash between rival groups at Alapa village, along Toro Road in Ile-Ife.

The deceased were identified as Toyin Olagbaju, Emmanuel Agunbiade, Akeem and Ademola, popularly known as Small.

Zungura said the incident followed a dispute between two rival groups over control of a cocoa farm in Alapa village.

He said the clash occurred between October 4 and 5, with about 10 armed men allegedly invading the village and opening fire.

According to him, preliminary investigations linked the rival groups to Awosunle Tosin, who is still at large, and Emmanuel Agunbiade, also known as Abore, who was among those killed.

Police recovered two dane guns, a small axe, 11 expended cartridges, one live cartridge and three empty AK-47 ammunition shells, among other exhibits.

The commissioner said detectives were continuing investigations into both cases and urged residents to provide information to support efforts to curb crime in the state.

The Osun Amotekun Corps had earlier said it handed over four of its operatives to the police to assist investigations into Emir’s killing.