Osun Police Hunt NURTW Chiefs Over Killing of ‘Emir’

The Osun State Police Command has intensified efforts to apprehend two factional leaders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) over the killing of Olalekan Oyeyemi, popularly known as Emir, in Ile-Ife.

The state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, declared Nurudeen Alowonle wanted and said operatives were also working to arrest another NURTW figure, Ojo Adeyemi, popularly known as Sibi, in connection with the September 13, 2026, killing.

Zungura disclosed the development on Monday while briefing journalists during the parade of suspects arrested for various offences at the command headquarters in Osogbo.

According to the police commissioner, six suspects have been arrested in connection with Emir’s death at a motor park in Ile-Ife. Those arrested include Alowonle’s personal assistant and an operative of the Osun Amotekun Corps.

The commissioner said preliminary investigations and statements obtained from some suspects indicated that they had allegedly been mobilised by Alowonle and Adeyemi to carry out the killing. The allegations have not been established in court.

The suspects in custody were identified as Tijani Ismail, Akinsola Ekundayo, Sijuade Moruf, Ayeni Adegbola, Hammed Dada and Waliyu Adejare.

Zungura said investigations led to the arrest of Hammed Olalekan Dauda, also known as Jagaban, who was allegedly found with a locally made, cut-to-size firearm. The police said Dauda reportedly told investigators that Alowonle had given him the weapon.

Another suspect, Waliyu Adejare, also known as Jay Jay, was arrested in connection with the incident. He was identified as Alowonle’s personal assistant.

The police said Alowonle and Adeyemi remained at large as efforts continued to bring them into custody alongside other suspects allegedly connected to the killing.

Emir’s death has drawn attention to tensions surrounding motor park management in Osun State. He was reportedly killed at Mayfair Motor Park in Ile-Ife amid a dispute linked to the management of motor parks and the state government’s plans to introduce a new Park Management System.

Following the killing, Governor Ademola Adeleke ordered an investigation, directed rival groups to leave motor parks and called on security agencies to arrest those suspected of involvement. The state government also moved to establish a framework for regulating transport operations and park management.

The case has also brought renewed scrutiny to the involvement of Amotekun personnel in the matter. Earlier in October, the Osun Amotekun Corps said it had handed over four operatives attached to Alowonle to the police to assist with investigations, stressing that the personnel had been made available voluntarily rather than arrested by the police.

The police have urged members of the public to support efforts to maintain security while investigations continue. The command has not announced the arrest of the two NURTW figures declared wanted.

The investigation remains ongoing, and the allegations against those named by the police will be subject to the judicial process.

About The Author