IGP Urged To Probe Osun Killings, Political Violence

The inspector-general of police, IGP Olatunji Disu has been urged to order a comprehensive investigation into recent killings and alleged political violence in Osun State, with civil society groups warning that failure to unravel the circumstances behind the incidents could deepen insecurity in the state.

The League of Peace Ambassadors, Humanity and Human Rights Advocates and the Nigeria Peace and Security Advancement Network made the call on Tuesday at a joint press conference in Abuja, following the killing of Olalekan Dauda Oyeyemi, popularly known as Emir Ajagungbade, in Ile-Ife.

The groups urged the police authorities to go beyond investigating the immediate circumstances of Oyeyemi’s death and probe the wider networks allegedly behind political violence in the state, including those who may have financed, organised or participated in attacks.

They also called for a review of unresolved killings and alleged politically motivated attacks in Osun, saying a comprehensive investigation was necessary to establish whether there was a pattern and identify those responsible.

The call came as the Osun State Police Command commenced investigation into Oyeyemi’s killing, while Governor Ademola Adeleke directed security agencies to apprehend those responsible.

Speaking at the briefing, secretary of the FCT Chapter of the League of Peace Ambassadors, Humanity and Human Rights Advocates, Amb. Nanbut Mathew, said the circumstances surrounding the killing required an impartial and professional investigation.

He said reported eyewitness accounts made it imperative for the police and other security agencies to act swiftly and ensure that the case did not become another unresolved killing.

“The circumstances surrounding the latest incident, coupled with the weighty eyewitness accounts reportedly emerging from the scene, demand immediate and decisive action from the state government and the security agencies,” Mathew said.

The groups specifically urged the police to investigate allegations involving Nurudeen Alowonle, Olayemi Ojo, popularly known as Sibi, and other individuals reportedly linked by witnesses to the incident.

They, however, cautioned against treating allegations as established facts, stressing that guilt must be determined through investigation and due process.

“Every life lost to political violence deserves justice, and every person found culpable must face the full weight of the law,” Mathew said.

The organisations further urged the police to revisit previous unresolved cases of violence in the state, including allegations surrounding the 2024 arrest of Alowonle.

They also called for any allegation of political interference in criminal investigations to be independently established by the appropriate authorities.

Also speaking, assistant secretary of the FCT Chapter of the Nigeria Peace and Security Advancement Network, Comrade Abigi Akaaer Joshua, said the groups were not seeking to determine guilt through their press conference.

“We are not interested in determining guilt through press conferences. That is the responsibility of the police and the courts,” Joshua said.

He urged the police to investigate every allegation, arrest suspects where there were lawful grounds and prosecute those against whom sufficient evidence was established.

Joshua also called for stronger intelligence gathering to identify those allegedly financing, organising or participating in political violence, as well as intensified efforts to recover illegal firearms and ammunition in circulation across the state.

“We specifically demand that Nurudeen Alowonle, Olayemi Ojo, popularly known as Sibi, and every other individual reasonably suspected of involvement in the latest incident be invited, arrested where legally justified, thoroughly investigated and prosecuted if sufficient evidence is established against them,” he said.

According to Joshua, the investigation into Oyeyemi’s killing should establish the full chain of responsibility, including the circumstances of the attack, the perpetrators, possible sponsors and whether there were attempts to conceal the crime.

“The investigation must establish what happened, who ordered it, who participated in it, who financed it and whether there were attempts to conceal the crime,” he said.

The groups urged IGP Disu and the Osun State Police Command to ensure that the investigation was transparent, professional and free from political interference.

They also appealed to Governor Adeleke, political parties, their supporters and residents to cooperate with security agencies and avoid retaliatory attacks or taking the law into their own hands.

The organisations said swift action was required to prevent further loss of lives, recover illegal weapons and ensure that anyone found culpable was brought to justice.

“We demand justice for every victim of political violence in Osun State and call on the Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies to unravel the circumstances surrounding all such killings and bring every person found culpable to justice,” they said.