A human rights organisation, Hope For The Common Man Foundation, has expressed concerns over the alleged failure of Zone XI Police officers in Osogbo to produce three suspects involved in an attempted murder in Oke-Oba community, Iwo, Osun State. The incident occurred on August 26, 2026, when armed men attacked a farm owner and two others, prompting the victims to seek help from Amotekun Corps.
According to reports, the Amotekun Corps responded swiftly, arrested two suspects, Fatai Balogun and Rafiu Adesola Balogun, and recovered a barrel gun and cutlass from them. The Corps' Public Relations Officer, Yusuf Idowu Abass, confirmed that the suspects allegedly attacked the victims while they were working on their farm, attempting to force them away from the land.
The Osun Amotekun Corps Commander, Isaac Omoyele, commended the public for alerting security operatives and praised officers of the Iwo Command for their swift response, which prevented the situation from escalating. The suspects were subsequently transferred to the Zone XI Police Command in Osogbo for further interrogation and prosecution.
However, the Executive Director of Hope For The Common Man, Nurudeen Ibraheem, claimed that some officers at Zone XI Police Command, acting under the authority of ACP Akinloloye Oyegbade, perfected the release of the suspects. Ibraheem and other human rights activists have expressed worry over the manner in which officers at Zone XI handled the case, alleging that the suspects were freed without investigation or contacting the victims.
On September 28, 2026, Ibraheem and the victims met with the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone XI, who directed that the suspects be produced. However, the Station Officer informed them that the alleged attackers were actually the complainants, while the victims were being treated as respondents, raising concerns about the handling of the case.
Ibraheem stated that the Zone XI Police have been foot-dragging and attempting to frustrate the matter, with the suspects repeatedly refusing to honour scheduled invitations to appear before the Police. The development has raised serious concerns about how the victims have been treated and the handling of the suspects.
The incident has highlighted the challenges in addressing the Oyo/Osun boundary crisis, which has led to increased attacks on farmers and residents in the area. The Amotekun Corps has reiterated its commitment to protecting residents, farmers, and communities across Osun State, while human rights groups continue to monitor the case and advocate for justice for the victims.
Key points
- Zone XI Police officers' handling of suspects arrested by Amotekun has raised concerns among human rights groups.
- The suspects were allegedly released without investigation or contacting the victims.
- The incident has highlighted the challenges in addressing the Oyo/Osun boundary crisis.
