Police declare factional Osun NURTW chief wanted for manslaughter

Tuesday, October 20, 2026 - The Osun State Police Command has declared factional chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Nurudeen Alowonle, wanted in connection with the death of Olalekan Oyeyemi, popularly known as Emir.

Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Zungura announced this on Monday while parading suspects at the command’s headquarters in Osogbo. He said six people, including Alowonle’s personal assistant and an Amotekun operative, had been arrested over the September 13 incident at a motor park in Ile-Ife.

Zungura identified those in custody as Tijani Ismail, Akinsola Ekundayo, Sijuade Moruf, Ayeni Adegbola, Hammed Dada and Waliyu Adejare. He said officers were also searching for another NURTW official, Ojo Adeyemi, also known as Sibi, and other suspects allegedly linked to the incident.

According to the commissioner, suspects’ statements implicated Alowonle and Adeyemi in allegedly mobilising those involved. Zungura also named a suspect as Hammed Olalekan Dauda, popularly known as Jagaban, who was allegedly found with a shortened firearm. He said Dauda told investigators that Alowonle supplied the weapon.

Further investigations led to the arrest of Alowonle’s personal assistant, Adejare, also known as Jay Jay, the commissioner added. “Alowonle is declared wanted. The Command is intensifying efforts to apprehend Nurudeen Alowonle, Adeyemi Ojo aka Sibi, and other suspects currently at large,” Zungura said. The Osun Amotekun Corps had earlier said it handed four operatives over to the police to assist with investigations into Oyeyemi’s death.

In a separate development, the commissioner announced the arrest of Oniyefa Olayemi following a clash that left four people dead at Alapa village, along Toro Road in Ile-Ife. He identified the deceased as Toyin Olagbaju, Emmanuel Agunbiade, a man identified only as Akeem, and Ademola, also known as Small.

Zungura said police received a report on October 5, 2026, alleging that about 10 armed men entered the village between October 4 and 5 and opened fire. Olagbaju, 40, was among those who died. He said preliminary investigations linked the confrontation to a dispute between rival groups over control of a large cocoa farm. According to police, the groups were allegedly led by Awosunle Tosin, who remains at large, and Agunbiade, also known as Abore.

Recovered items included two locally made guns, a small axe, 11 spent cartridges, one live cartridge and three empty AK-47 ammunition casings. Zungura said Olayemi was assisting investigators and urged residents to support the command with information to help maintain law and order across the state.