The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, disclosed this on Monday while parading suspects at the command’s headquarters in Osogbo. He said six suspects, including Alowonle’s personal assistant and an operative of the Amotekun Corps, had been arrested in connection with the September 13 incident at a motor park in Ile-Ife.
Zungura identified the suspects as Tijani Ismail, Akinsola Ekundayo, Sijuade Moruf, Ayeni Adegbola, Hammed Dada and Waliyu Adejare. He added that the police were searching for another NURTW official, Ojo Adeyemi, popularly known as Sibi, and other suspects allegedly linked to the incident.
According to the commissioner, statements obtained from the suspects implicated Alowonle and Adeyemi in the alleged mobilisation of individuals involved in the incident. He also identified Hammed Olalekan Dauda, popularly known as Jagaban, as a suspect who was allegedly found in possession of a shortened firearm. Dauda reportedly told investigators that Alowonle supplied the weapon.
Zungura said further investigations led to the arrest of Alowonle’s personal assistant, Adejare, also known as Jay Jay.
“Alowonle is declared wanted. The command is intensifying efforts to apprehend Nurudeen Alowonle, Adeyemi Ojo, aka Sibi, and other suspects currently at large,” the commissioner said.
The Osun Amotekun Corps had earlier announced that it handed over four of its operatives to the police to assist with investigations into Oyeyemi’s death.
In a separate development, the police commissioner announced the arrest of Oniyefa Olayemi in connection with a clash that claimed four lives at Alapa village, along Toro Road in Ile-Ife.
The deceased were identified as Toyin Olagbaju, Emmanuel Agunbiade, a man known only as Akeem, and Ademola, popularly called Small.
Zungura said the police received a report on October 5, 2026, alleging that about 10 armed men invaded the village between October 4 and 5 and opened fire, killing four people. Olagbaju, 40, was among the victims.
He said preliminary investigations suggested that the violence stemmed from a dispute between rival groups over control of a large cocoa farm. The groups were allegedly led by Awosunle Tosin, who remains at large, and Agunbiade, also known as Abore.
Items recovered in connection with the incident included two locally made guns, a small axe, 11 spent cartridges, one live cartridge and three empty AK-47 ammunition casings.
The commissioner said Olayemi was assisting the police with their investigation. He urged residents to provide credible information to support the command’s efforts to maintain law and order across the state.
