The death toll from a violent incident involving Amotekun operatives in Akinlalu, Osun State, has risen to four after a critically injured victim succumbed to injuries early Saturday at Osun State University Teaching Hospital in Osogbo. The clash, which occurred on Tuesday, initially claimed three lives, with eight others severely injured, sparking outrage in the community.
According to resident Babarinde Olamide, Amotekun operatives stormed Akinlalu inh three vehicles, alleging a suspect had seized their locally made weapon. At the town center, they reportedly fired indiscriminately, killing three people on the spot and injuring others, some with machete wounds. “They took the bodies and the injured away,” Olamide said, noting the community’s shock at the violence in their peaceful town.
Amotekun, however, claimed it was engaged in a 30-minute shootout with the victims, a narrative disputed by residents. Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke responded by ordering an investigation, sending a government delegation to Akinlalu. In a statement via his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke expressed condolences to the victims’ families and urged calm. “I’m a rule-of-law governor. Any infraction will be addressed legally,” he said, citing a security council meeting to probe the incident and concerns about banditry spillover from Kwara.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun criticized Amotekun, accusing it of extrajudicial killings. APC’s media director, Kola Olabisi, warned against the security outfit becoming an “agent of intimidation” ahead of elections and urged Adeleke to ensure an impartial investigation.
The incident has heightened tensions, with residents demanding justice as investigations continue to uncover the truth behind the deadly encounter.
