The Osun State Police Command has declared a factional chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Nurudeen Alowonle, wanted over his alleged involvement in the killing of Olalekan Oyeyemi, popularly known as Emir, at a motor park in Ile-Ife.
The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, announced the development on Monday while parading suspects arrested for various criminal offences at the command headquarters in Osogbo.
Zungura disclosed that six suspects, including Alowonle’s personal assistant and an operative of the Osun State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun Corps, had been arrested in connection with the September 13, 2026, killing.
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He said preliminary investigations and statements obtained from suspects allegedly linked Alowonle and another NURTW leader, Ojo Adeyemi, popularly known as Sibi, to the incident.
According to the police commissioner, investigators are intensifying efforts to apprehend both union leaders and other suspects believed to have participated in the killing.
The six suspects identified by the command are Tijani Ismail, Akinsola Ekundayo, Sijuade Moruf, Ayeni Adegbola, Hammed Dada and Waliyu Adejare.
Zungura explained that investigations also led detectives to a suspect identified as Hammed Olalekan Dauda, popularly known as Jagaban, who was allegedly found in possession of a locally made, cut-to-size firearm.
“During interrogation, he reportedly confessed that the firearm was given to him by one Nurudeen Alowonle,” the commissioner stated.
He added that further investigations resulted in the arrest of Waliyu Adejare, also known as Jay Jay, identified as Alowonle’s personal assistant.
According to Zungura, preliminary findings indicated that the suspects were allegedly mobilised by Alowonle and Adeyemi to carry out the attack.
“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,” he said.
The police commissioner also disclosed that six suspects had been arrested over an alleged motorcycle robbery along the Ile-Ife–Ibadan Expressway.
He identified them as Olaiya Sunday, 27; Akintunde Mariam, 28; Agoro Kudus, 27; Timileyin Idowu, 23; Adekunle Ibrahim, 30; and Temitope Opeyemi, 29.
Zungura said the suspects allegedly dispossessed a commuter of a Bajaj Boxer motorcycle, adding that five mobile phones were recovered during the investigation.
He claimed that the suspects had confessed to their involvement in the robbery.
In a separate development, the commissioner announced the arrest of Oniyefa Olayemi in connection with a violent clash between rival groups that reportedly claimed four lives 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 was reported to the police on October 5, 2026, after armed men allegedly invaded the community between October 4 and 5, shooting indiscriminately.
According to him, a complainant from Odo Ogbe, Ile-Ife, reported that his 40-year-old mother, Toyin Olagbaju, was among those killed during the attack.
He explained that detectives from the homicide section commenced investigations, which revealed that the violence allegedly resulted from a dispute between two rival groups over control of a large cocoa farm in the community.
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“Preliminary findings revealed that two rival groups, allegedly led by one Awosunle Tosin, who is currently at large, and Emmanuel Agunbiade, also known as Abore, were engaged in a violent dispute over the control of a vast cocoa farm situated at Alapa Village,” Zungura said.
He added that the confrontation resulted in multiple casualties, while Olayemi, who was subsequently arrested, was assisting investigators.
The police commissioner disclosed that detectives recovered several weapons and ammunition-related exhibits from the scene, including two dane guns, a small axe, 11 expended cartridges, one live cartridge, three empty AK-47 rifle cartridge cases, three empty LAR rifle cartridge cases, an empty assault rifle cartridge case and locally made charms.
Zungura assured residents that the command would continue its operations against criminal activities across the state.
He urged members of the public to provide credible information to assist the police in tracking down wanted suspects and maintaining peace and security.
