- Safiu Kehinde
At least 20 operatives attached to the Osun Amotekun Corps have arrested over killings at Akinlalu community in Ife North Local Government Area of the state.
The operatives of the local security outfit had on the 30th of September invaded the community shooting sporadically on the arrival at the market square.
They reportedly proceeded into some houses with the community, killing a total of four people with eleven others injured.
Videos shared on Facebook showed heartbroken members of the community recounting their ordeal.
An elderly man identified as Nurudeen Adeabo, recounted how the Amotekun corps had stormed his house located close to the market during the attack.
Speaking in Yoruba, Adeabo said about 10 of them came through the main entrance while over 20 others took the backdoor.
He recounted how they opened fire on the house, killing one of his sons while another had his hands hacked by the assailants.
Adeabo, who showed the pellets the bullets recovered from his house also disclosed how one of the operatives nearly gunned down his daughter and grandchild, but his quick intervention saw the bullets hitting the nursing mother on her thigh.
He was assaulted and repeatedly shot at the back by the officials but somehow managed to escape,
“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.” He said.
They Shot my Son Repeatedly, Took his Body Away- Aggrieved Mother Recounts Ordeal
Another victim of the attack recounted how her 25-year-old son was killed.
The visibly aggrieved mother who narrated her ordeal in tears disclosed how the Amotekun officials brutally shot the man, identified as Sumaila, dead and took his body away.
“Whenever I see Sumalia, I’m always happy. He was leaving with the money made from his cocoa sales. His shot him repeatedly and took his body away.
“I’m battling with a terminal illness which I nurse every week all because of my children.” She said.
In the wake of the incident, police officials deployed from the Force Headquarters in Abuja reportedly arrested 20 suspected Amotekun officers involved in the attack while sealing all the security outfit’s office across the state.
No One Found Culpable Will be Spared- Adeleke
Reacting to the development, the Osun state governor, Ademola Adeleke, again expressed his condolences with victims of the attack.
Adeleke, in a statement issued on Friday by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, commended the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over the arrests and actions taken so far by the Force.
He assured the police of full cooperation and support for the investigation process.
Adeleke affirmed his commitment to fishing out those responsible, declaring that “no one or group, no matter how highly placed or connected found to be culpable in one way or the other should be spared from facing the full brunt of the law.”
The Governor who further said there is no sacred cows in the matter at hand however urges the police to observe the rule of law in the investigation to ensure fairness, adding that the innocents must be protected within the bound of law.
He noted that, justice must not only be done but must be brought to bear accordingly without any let or hindrance.
“I will not condone violation of the law or any act of indiscipline and impunity. In this matter, the law must take its course.
“Once again, I urge all stakeholders particularly the police, the Department of State Security ( DSS), the Amotekun Security Service and other security agencies to ensure absolute peace and orderliness while the investigation lasts”, the Governor was quoted as saying.
Osun Assembly Demands Unsealing of Amotekun Operational Offices
While also commiserating the victims of the attack, the Osun State House of Assembly however faulted the sealing of the Amotekun Corps operational offices.
The Assembly’s Speaker, Adewale Egbedun, in a Press Conference held on Friday, maintained that the Corps reamins lawfully established.
Egbedun held that the Police Force has no constitutional authority to shut down the Corps’ operation.
“The House empathizes with the concerned families and individuals in Akinlalu who have been affected by the recent incident involving security operations
“While the House does not condone misconduct or impunity by any security organisation, allegations of wrongdoing must be investigated transparently and in accordance with the law and must not be used as a smokescreen to sabotage duly constituted institution.
“That the Amotekun Corps remain a lawfully established and functional agency of the Osun State Government and no individual, political actor, or security institution possesses the constitutional authority to shut it down without a legislative revocation.” He said.
The Speaker condemned the sealing of the Amotekun Corps operational offices as he demanded that the Police unseal the offices in order for the local vigilante group to resume their operation.
He disclosed that the Assembly had mandated its committee on security to investigate the development and give feedback to the House in the next seven days.
While waring against sacrificing the security and well-being of Osun people on altar of politics, Egbedun reiterated the legislative chamber’s commitment to its constitutional duty to defend the laws it enacts and to protect the integrity of the institutions.
“That the House condemn in strongest terms, the unlawful sealing of the Amotekun Corps operational offices and demand its immediate unsealing to allow the Corps to resume its statutory responsibilities. without disruption.
“That portion to Section 128 and 129 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, the House has mandated its committee on Security to investigate this development and submit its report within seven days.
“That the security and well-being of the people of Osun state must not be sacrificed on the altar of politics. Amotekun Corps was created by law, sustained by public fund and empowered by the people. No unlawful directive or politically motivated action can override its legal mandate without breaching the constitution and undermining the will of Osun people.
“The Osun State House of Assembly remains resolute in its constitutional duty to defend the laws it enacts and to protect the integrity of the institutions established for the safety, stability and progress of the state.” He said.