About 20 operatives of the Amotekun Corps in Osun State were on Wednesday arrested by a squad of the Nigeria Police Force in connection with the killings that occurred in Akinlalu, a community in Ife North Local Government Area of the state, last week.
The police squad, involved in the arrest, said to have been deployed from Abuja, it was learnt, arrested Amotekun operatives at Oke Fia, Osogbo Operation Base of the Corps and Ife Central Division located in Ile-Ife.
When contacted for confirmation, Osun Amotekun spokesperson, Yusuf Idowu, confirmed the arrest of some operatives of the Corps in connection with the incident that occurred in Akinlalu.
“Some policemen came, but they didn’t seal our headquarters (Powerline Office). They burst our operation base in Oke-Fia and the Ife Central command.
“They also arrested about 20 of our operatives at Oke-Fia and Ife Central Command. They came in respect of the Akinlalu incident. The policemen are still at Oke-Fia, and we don’t know where they took our personnel that they arrested,” Idowu said.
Reacting, the Osun State Police Command, in an updated statement, revealed that five suspects have been arrested in connection with the Akinlalu killings.
The statement by the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, issued through the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, further revealed that investigation carried out by the Police showed that the attackers are members of the Amotekun Corps.
He said, “Investigation carried out by the Police revealed that the attackers are members of the Amotekun Corps, and individuals were mentioned to have masterminded the attack, which victims and witnesses of the attack said they can identify if seen. Meanwhile, five suspects have been arrested in connection with the case; efforts are on top gear to arrest other suspects at large.”
He also disclosed that the Osun Amotekun Corps Commander, Isaac Omoyele, was invited to clarify his role in the deadly attack but refused to honour the invitation.
He added that Omoyele later claimed that he was attacked by unknown gunmen wearing masks, which investigations revealed was a lie to conceal the truth and derail the course of justice for the victims.
The statement reads, “The Commander of Amotekun Corps has been invited to clarify his role in the entire episode of the attack.
“Meanwhile, he has refused to honour the invitation, and efforts made to reach him on phone proved abortive as his phone has been switched off, only for him to come on social media on 6th October, 2025, and put up a claim of being attacked by unknown armed men wearing masks, which preliminary enquiry reveals to be a figment of his own imagination aimed at concealing the truth and derailing the course of justice for the victims.”
The statement also confirmed that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the elite investigative body of the Force, the IRT-FID, to take over the case.
The command, while urging the public to disregard any unsubstantiated claim and go about their lawful businesses, added that the Police remained focused on maintaining the peace which Osun State has always been known for.
(NAN)