By Ado Oyeyemi
The Osun State Police Command has arrested six suspects in connection with the killing of Ile-Ife social figure, Olalekan Oyeyemi Ajagungbade, popularly known as Emir, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend those allegedly behind the attack.
The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing in Osogbo, where he also announced the arrest of a suspect over the killing of four people during a violent clash between rival groups fighting over a cocoa farm in Ile-Ife.
Zungura said Emir was killed on September 13, 2026, when armed men allegedly stormed Mayfair Garage in Ile-Ife and opened fire.
He explained that investigations by the State Criminal Investigation Department, with support from the Amotekun Corps, led to the arrest of four suspects.
According to the commissioner, further investigations resulted in the arrest of Hammed Olalekan Dauda, popularly known as Jagaban, who was allegedly found in possession of a cut-to-size firearm.
The suspect reportedly claimed that the weapon was given to him by Nurudeen Alowonle. The police also arrested Alowonle’s personal assistant, Waliu Adejare, popularly known as Jay Jay, in connection with the investigation.
Zungura alleged that Alowonle and Adeyemi Ojo, also known as Sibi, mobilised the suspects involved in the killing, adding that efforts were underway to arrest the two men and other fleeing suspects.
In a separate case, the police arrested a suspect, Oniyefa Olayemi, over the killing of four people during a clash between rival groups at Alapa village, along Toro Road, Ile-Ife.
The violence reportedly occurred between October 4 and 5 during a dispute over control of a cocoa farm.
The deceased were identified as Toyin Olagbaju, 40; Emmanuel Agunbiade, also known as Abore; Akeem; and Ademola, popularly called Small.
The police commissioner said preliminary investigations allegedly linked the rival groups to Awosunle Tosin, who is still at large, and Agunbiade.
Items recovered from the scene included two Dane guns, a small axe, cartridges, ammunition shells believed to be from AK-47 and LAR rifles, and locally made charms.
Zungura said the command was intensifying efforts to arrest other suspects and recover more weapons.
Meanwhile, the police announced the arrest of six suspected armed robbers allegedly operating across Osun and neighbouring states.
The suspects were identified as Olaiya Sunday, Akintunde Mariam, Agoro Kudus, Timileyin Idowu, Adekunle Ibrahim and Temitope Opeyemi.
According to the commissioner, their arrest followed an incident on September 24, when police operatives intercepted an unregistered motorcycle at Akinlalu, in the Ipetumodu area of the Ile-Ife-Ibadan Expressway.
Two robbery victims reportedly identified the rider and his passenger, who fled the scene, as the individuals who had dispossessed them of a motorcycle and mobile phones.
Further investigations allegedly linked the suspects to a robbery gang operating in Osun, Oyo and Lagos states.
The police said five mobile phones, including an iPhone 13 and an iPhone 11, were recovered, while efforts continued to recover the stolen motorcycle and arrest other members of the suspected gang.
In another development, the command arrested a 32-year-old man, Adeosun Gbenga, in Ifo, Ogun State, over an alleged burglary at a Jumia pickup station on August 22.
Police said the suspect was found with an iPhone 13, five Android phones, a tablet, two headsets, two wristwatches and a charger. Efforts were ongoing to apprehend other suspects linked to the alleged burglary.
The commissioner warned residents against taking the law into their own hands or using illegal firearms to settle disputes, particularly those involving land ownership.
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He assured the public that suspects would be charged in court after investigations were concluded and urged residents to provide credible information to assist the police in tackling crime.
