Condemnation is trailing the killing of three members of a family, and one other at Akinlalu community, a suburb of Osun State by officials of Amotekun corps. TOBA ADEDEJI reports the aftermath.

Akinlalu community in Ife North Local Government Area of Osun State wears a gloomy look. The mood is a combination of fear, grief, and deafening silence. The tense atmosphere is following the invasion of the community by operatives of the Amotekun corps who shot and killed unarmed residents at the market square.

The Nation recalled that masked Amotekun officials last Tuesday invaded the epicenter of the community, the market square via the palace and started shooting indiscriminately. Four people, including three family members were killed in the process while 11 others sustained injuries.

It was learnt that the Amotekun corps had on Monday, arrested a suspected thief at Aba-Oba village via Akinlalu but he later overpowered them and snatched a gun from them.

Infuriated by the development, the Amotekun corps on Tuesday invaded the community to create fear and make the community produce the stolen rifle.

When our correspondent visited the town on Friday,the once lively town had become a shadow of itself. Bereaved families sat mournfully, while others spoke in low tones.

There were uncontrollable tears in the house of Aro of Akinlalu, Chief Kamorudeen Oyebamiji who lost his three children in the attack.

Two children of his younger wife were killed while a child of his elder wife was gruesomely killed during the invasion.

Chief Kamorudeen said “the hooded Amotekun corps killed my three children in a single day. Two of them were shot while the other was hacked to death when he was trying to escape from the scene. They must bring those corpses.”

Another bereaved man, Nurudeen Adeabo, showed The Nation pellets of the bullets fired at his house located close to the market by Amotekun officials during the attack.

He disclosed that “they killed one of my sons here. Check the walls in my house, they are riddled with bullets. My daughter, who is a nursing mother was shot on her thigh, while my son who is a graduate had his hand broken with the axes used on him. I was equally assaulted by the officials with a gun butt. They came to the town wearing masks.”

A resident , who identified himself simply as Sola also disclosed that “a 45-year-old Akeeb Odefunke who had a stroke was also hacked by men of Amotekun during the attack. A pepper seller at the market was shot but still receiving treatment at the hospital.

“All these attacks happened in the heartbeat of the community, the palace, market square, Oke-Ola junction and Seriki’s compound. There were several others that sustained minor injuries scattered across hospitals in our community and Ipetumodu. They fired several shots at a primary school in the market area. It seemed those Amotekun people perpetrated the invasion under the influence of drugs.”

Also speaking, the head of the youths, Musbau Adeboye, berated the state government and Governor Ademola Adeleke for keeping mum since Tuesday when the incident occurred, noting that the attack was a callous one.

He explained that “On Tuesday morning, when the Ife North Commander of Amotekun informed me that a thief escaped from his boys and snatched away their gun on Monday, I told him that I will organise youths to give them intel on how to arrest them.

“But minutes later, they struck, maimed and killed people of our community. I was surprised. This is barbaric. Many were in a pool of blood when I entered the town. They first left after the attack but returned a few minutes later to carry the corpses and others who sustained gunshot wounds to Osogbo.

“It is unfortunate that Governor Ademola Adeleke has not said anything since the incident occurred. The youths are bitter about the incident. Amotekun turned themselves into militants.”

Speaking with The Nation on Friday, the Alakinlalu of Akinlalu, Oba Oluwabusola Oloyede, demanded justice for the slain residents denying the claim of Amotekun that those killed were bandits and hoodlums.

He explained that when the incident occurred, he contacted the Osun State House of Assembly Deputy Speaker, Akinyode Oyewusi and they visited the Amotekun headquarters in Osogbo to secure the release of those that were arrested and the corpses of the slain victims during the invasion of the town.

According to him, “upon our visit to Amotekun headquarters, their boss confirmed to us that he was the one who ordered the invasion, having instructed them to first visit the palace. However, they never came to the palace but rather attacked innocent residents at the market square. Four people were killed while nine people were injured during the attack. One of the injured victims died this morning.”

He implored the youths to remain calm and put their trust in the state government to bring the erring Amotekun corps to justice.

“I want to equally state that my people never laid ambush for anyone, the people that were killed are not bandits and hoodlums as claimed by Amotekun, the people they shot and also killed were attacked at the market square and their homes close by.”

One of the leaders of the community, Olamide Babarinde, disclosed that the Amotekun corps are still threatening to invade the community again If they continue to address newsmen about the incident.

“I want to urge the state government to come to our aid. They should bring these Amotekun corps to book to serve as a deterrent to others. This matter should not be allowed to be swept under the carpet.”

A civil society group, Dialogue 365 led by Comrade Waheed Saka, described the attack as barbaric and unjust, saying “It is unfortunate that the state government turned deaf ears to our outcry when Governor Ademola Adeleke appointed former SARS leader, Isaac Omoyele as the commandant of Amotekun. He was indicted by #EndSARs panel for several extrajudicial killings. He was recommended for demotion.

“In 2022, he killed three family members in Ede, the unfortunate incident forced him to retire from the Nigerian Police force, Adeleke appointed him as his Chief Security Officer, which we kicked against, thereafter, he was appointed as the Corps Commandant of Amotekun.”

He continued, “You cannot appoint a killer ex-police officer indicted by government panel in their report as head of an outfit like Amotekun and not witness this kind of brutal killing. Imagine, Amotekun hacked residents to death.

“We are demanding immediate arrest of Omoyele who ordered the attack and his killer squad who killed women and children at the market square.”

Also, a popular guber aspirant, Bola Oyebamiji expressed his condolences to the people of Akinlalu, over the tragic killings of their beloved, describing the incident as regrettable, praying for the repose of the departed souls as well as strength for the bereaved families to bear the painful losses.

He appealed to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, to investigate the unfortunate and gory incident. (The Nation, excluding headline)

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