Calls for the arrest of Alowonle,Solo Iwara and others at large
The Justice and Peace Movement, a pressure group in Osun State, has called on the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to order the immediate arrest of all political thugs and suspected criminals previously declared wanted by the police in the state.
The group made the demand in a statement issued on Wednesday its Secretary, Femi Adeshina, while reacting to the reported killing of Olalekan Dauda Oyeyemi, popularly known as Emir Ajagungbade, in Ile-Ife on Sunday.
The group said the circumstances surrounding Emir’s death should prompt the police and other security agencies to revisit the cases of individuals previously declared wanted over alleged acts of violence and criminality.
Adeshina argued that the reported circumstances surrounding Emir’s activities before his death had raised serious questions about the enforcement of police warrants involving politically connected individuals.
According to the group, “The killing of Emir by a group said to be working with Nurudeen Alowonle, another appointee of Governor Adeleke, confirms the allegations that the government is shielding criminals from arrest.”
The Justice and Peace Movement also recalled that a violent confrontation involving rival groups reportedly occurred in the Oke Ayepe area of Osogbo on the day music star Davido visited the palace with his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke, resulting in the death of one person.
The group further alleged that Emir had maintained a close relationship with the governor’s political camp and was frequently seen in the governor’s convoy during election campaigns.
It said repeated calls for his arrest had, at various times, been dismissed as politically motivated.
“For Emir to have gone to the house of the Commissioner of Transport with members of his team on his campaign to be the chairman of the NURTW tells the story of the government’s position,” the group said.
The development has also drawn criticism from the Osun State APC Governorship Campaign Council, which described Emir’s reported killing as a disturbing development and called for renewed scrutiny of political violence and rival groups allegedly associated with the Governor Adeleke administration.
The APC campaign council alleged that Emir had faced serious criminal allegations, including murder and terrorism charges, and was later declared wanted after reportedly jumping bail.
It further alleged that despite his wanted status, Emir subsequently took refuge at the Osun State Government House in Okefia, Osogbo, to evade arrest.
The opposition group also raised questions about alleged rivalry within the transport sector, claiming that the state government had been considering Emir for the chairmanship of the Osun State Park Management System, a position it said was then occupied by Nurudeen Alowonle.
According to the APC campaign council, the reported rivalry over the position may have contributed to the circumstances preceding the attack in which Emir was killed.
The council also called on the police to investigate allegations linking Alowonle and Olayemi Ojo, popularly known as Sibi, to the incident and urged the immediate arrest of both men. The allegations have not been established in court.
The Justice and Peace Movement, meanwhile, said Emir’s death should not be allowed to end the investigation into the wider network of political violence in the state.
It pointed specifically to Alowonle, Solo Iwara and other individuals it said remained on the police wanted list.
“The fact that one wanted individual has been killed does not mean the security agencies should abandon the cases involving other persons declared wanted. The police must enforce the law without fear or favour, regardless of political affiliation,” Adeshina said.
The group also referenced a viral video from the Ile-Ife incident in which an executive of the NURTW was reportedly heard describing Emir as the governor’s preferred candidate for a transport leadership position, while acknowledging that other individuals, including Alowonle, were also in contention.
It said such claims further underscored the need for security agencies to investigate the relationship between political interests, transport unions and violent groups in the state.
“The Inspector-General of Police must ensure that everybody who has been legitimately declared wanted is brought before the law. Nobody should become untouchable because of political connections or proximity to government,” the group said.
The Justice and Peace Movement urged the police to intensify intelligence gathering, recover illegal firearms and dismantle networks allegedly responsible for political violence across Osun.
It also called on security agencies to protect citizens and political party members from further attacks, stressing that the conclusion of the recent governorship election should end, rather than encourage, political violence.
“The election is over, and there is no justification for political thuggery, intimidation or the use of violence. What Osun needs now is peace, justice and equal enforcement of the law,” the group stated.
The group appealed to the Inspector-General of Police to ensure that the investigation into Emir’s death is conducted thoroughly and that all persons found culpable are prosecuted in accordance with the law.
