Adeleke Orders Probe Into Akinlalu Killings, Dispatches Delegation
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, has ordered a full-scale investigation into the killing of three residents of Akinlalu community in Ife North Local Government by operatives of the Amotekun Corps.
The governor, in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Saturday, said he was deeply disturbed by the incident and had received preliminary briefings from his Special Adviser on Security Matters. Adeleke directed the State Security Council to meet on Monday to deliberate on the matter and other emerging security threats in the state.
According to the statement, a high-powered delegation of government officials and security chiefs will visit Akinlalu after the security council meeting. Members of the delegation include the Special Adviser on Security, the Attorney General, the Commissioner for Information, the Commissioner for Political Affairs, the Commissioner for Transportation, and service chiefs.
“I am a rule of law governor. This matter is being investigated, and any infraction will be dealt with within the context of the law. I have ordered a security council meeting on this incident and others, such as fears of spill-over from Kwara banditry attacks. I send my condolences to the victims of this unfortunate incident and urge the good people of Akinlalu to keep calm as our government acts on the matter,” Adeleke said.
Meanwhile, the Omoluabi Progressives, a political group loyal to former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, condemned what it described as the “reckless shooting” by Amotekun operatives.
In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Oluwaseun Abosede, the group demanded that those responsible be prosecuted and that families of victims be compensated.
The Osun State Police Command has also confirmed that some of the Amotekun personnel involved have been identified.
Police spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, said investigations are ongoing and assured that those on the run would be apprehended.
“There is no place to hide. Many of them are on the run, but definitely we will get them, except if they leave Osun State,” he said.
Residents of Akinlalu alleged that the operatives invaded their town on Tuesday, killing three people and injuring several others. They claimed the violence stemmed from the arrest of suspected cocoa thieves in Aba Oba village, a settlement under Akinlalu, where a clash reportedly broke out while the suspects were being handed over to Amotekun.
The incident has left the community in shock, with survivors receiving treatment in hospitals across Ipetumodu, Gbongan and Yakooyo.
