Osun Police Hunt Suspects
The Osun State Police Command has declared a factional chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Nurudeen Alowonle, wanted over the killing of Accord Party chieftain Olalekan Oyeyemi, popularly known as Emir.
The police say six suspects have been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting, which occurred on September 13 at Mayfair Motor Park in Ile-Ife.
Osun State Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Zungura announced the development on Monday during a briefing at the command headquarters in Osogbo, where suspects arrested for various offences were paraded.
Mediaplusng.com reports that the police are also searching for another NURTW figure, Ojo Adeyemi, popularly known as Sibi, who is suspected of involvement in the killing.
According to the commissioner, preliminary investigations indicate that the arrested suspects were allegedly mobilised by the two men to carry out the attack.
Among those arrested is Hammed Olalekan Dauda, also known as Jagaban. Police said he was found with a locally modified firearm and allegedly told investigators that Alowonle had given him the weapon.
Another suspect, Waliyu Adejare, popularly known as Jay Jay, was identified by the police as Alowonle’s personal assistant.
The other suspects were named as Tijani Ismail, Akinsola Ekundayo, Sijuade Moruf and Ayeni Adegbola.
The police also disclosed that four of the six arrested suspects are members of the Osun Amotekun Corps.
The command says efforts are continuing to apprehend the two men still wanted and other suspects allegedly connected to the incident.
The killing of Oyeyemi, a political associate of Governor Ademola Adeleke, sparked renewed tension over the control and management of motor parks across Osun State.
Following the incident, Governor Adeleke ordered the suspension of NURTW activities across the state and directed rival transport groups to leave motor parks while security agencies pursued those suspected of involvement in the killing.
The governor also announced plans to introduce a Park Management System aimed at regulating the operation of motor parks and garages.
On October 5, 2026, Adeleke signed the Integrated Transport, Traffic and Park Management System Bill 2026 into law after its passage by the Osun State House of Assembly.
However, the legislation has triggered a constitutional disagreement between the state government and the opposition All Progressives Congress.
The APC has argued that the regulation of public motor parks and the collection of related revenues fall within the responsibilities of democratically elected local government councils under the Nigerian Constitution.
The state government and lawmakers have rejected that interpretation, maintaining that the legislation is consistent with the constitutional framework governing state and local government responsibilities.
The controversy comes amid a longstanding dispute over local government administration in Osun, dating back to 2022, when Adeleke assumed office and removed council chairpersons inherited from the previous administration.
As investigations into Oyeyemi’s killing continue, the police face the task of locating the wanted suspects and establishing the individual roles, if any, of those implicated.
The allegations against the suspects have not been established in court, and the investigation is ongoing.
