A human rights group, Hope For The Common Man in Iwo, Osun State, has expressed concerns over the handling of a case involving a 68-year-old woman, Mrs Ayetimiyi Ibironke, who was attacked by a gang of suspected thugs at Ori-Eru junction in Iwo on September 6, 2026. The Executive Director of the group, Nurudeen Ibraheem, stated that the Divisional Police Officer of Adeeke Police Division, Sunday Fayofunmi Osungbure, failed to act when the victim's children sought intervention.
According to Ibraheem, the victim, Mrs. Ibironke Ayetimiyi, is a petty fish seller who was not involved with any faction of Okada riders, contrary to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer in Osun, Abiodun Ojelabi. Ibraheem explained that the attack was allegedly led by one Saheed Ajani, alongside other suspected hoodlums identified as Taiye Agbede, Isa, also known as “Iroko”, Eje, and Ileogbo.
The victim's children alleged that they rushed to the Adeeke Police Station, Iwo, to seek intervention after the attack began, but claimed that the Divisional Police Officer, Sunday Fayofunmi Osungbure, failed to act. One of the victim's children said that the DPO told them he could not do anything, that the issue was beyond him, and that they were ignored despite their cries and pleas for police intervention.
Ibraheem had mentioned that the alleged attack was linked to a clash between two groups of commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as okada riders. He said some persons allegedly stormed Ibironke's shop to collect bottles for use during the clash, which was reportedly connected to control of commercial motorcycle operations in Iwo.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, had issued a statement noting that the human rights activist's narrations did not portray “the true fact of the case.” Ojelabi stated that investigation revealed that there are two factions of Okada riders at Iri-Eru junction, Iwo, and one faction is supported by one Ajani Saheed, who owns a hotel at the same junction, while the other faction is supported by one Ibironke Arowolo, who owns a beer parlor at the same junction.
The Osun State Police Command arrested five suspects who took part in the assault, including Sodiq Yusuf, Olagoke Kolawole, Ajani Saheed, Samuel Ayetimiyi, and Doris Ayetimiyi. The suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation. Ibraheem responded to the Police spokesperson's statement, saying he stands by his remarks and accused the police of dishing out one side story to the public.
Ibraheem expressed concern that the Press Release appears to have adopted substantially the account of the accused persons and presented same as the established facts, while portraying the complainants and the Human Rights Activist in an unfavorable manner. The group called for a proper investigation into the incident, including the circumstances surrounding the alleged failure of police intervention.
Key points
- The human rights group, Hope For The Common Man, disputes the Osun State Police Command's account of the assault on a 68-year-old woman in Iwo.
- The group alleges that the Divisional Police Officer failed to act when the victim's children sought intervention.
- The incident is linked to a clash between two groups of commercial motorcycle operators in Iwo.
