By Ado Oyeyemi
A mother, Alaba Oyebamiji, has appealed to the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, and the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to intervene in the release of the remains of her two sons, who were allegedly killed during a security operation in Akinlalu, Ife North Local Government Area of the state.
The appeal came one year after Ismaila and Sefiu Oyebamiji were among four people allegedly killed in the community on September 30, 2025.
The other victims were identified as Abiola Olutayo and another Sefiu Oyebamiji.
According to reports, the victims were allegedly killed after operatives of the Western Nigeria Security Network, also known as Amotekun, invaded the community following an incident whose circumstances have remained a concern to residents.
However, one year after the incident, the families are yet to receive the remains of the deceased for burial, prompting renewed calls for intervention by the authorities.
Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, Oyebamiji said the continued withholding of her sons’ remains had deepened her grief and made it difficult for her to resume her normal life.
“My heart is still heavy over the killing of my two sons. I am sad and heartbroken, but I have been consoled by the word of God.
I would have had peace of mind and been able to associate freely with people if their remains had been released to me for proper burial,” she said.
The grieving mother said she had made several efforts to secure the release of the bodies but had yet to get a positive response.
“One of my sons, Ismail, was killed while his wife was pregnant. His wife and the baby are now in my custody.
For some time now, I have not been able to go out because people make jest of me,” she added.
She appealed to the state and Federal Governments to consider the plight of the affected families and facilitate the release of the remains so they could perform the necessary burial rites.
The traditional ruler of Akinlalu, Oba Israel Aborisade, also said the community had made several attempts to resolve the matter, including meetings with the governor and the police.
The monarch said the authorities had repeatedly asked the community to exercise patience without providing a definite timeline for the release of the remains.
“We have made several moves on this matter. We have met with the governor and the police over the release of the bodies, but they kept telling us to exercise patience without giving us a particular time,” he said.
Similarly, the community youth leader, Musibau Adeboye, said the immediate concern of the community was the release of the victims’ remains rather than compensation.
“Government has done its best for the victims by compensating the families. But our demand now is for the release of the victims’ remains,” Adeboye said.
He urged the Federal and Osun State governments to intervene and enable the families to lay their loved ones to rest.
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As the first anniversary of the incident passes, the affected families and community leaders are seeking the release of the remains to enable them to perform the final burial rites according to their wishes.
