In the bid to forestall political violence ahead of the 2026 Osun State governorship election, the state’s police command has declared Dauda Olamilekan, popularly known as Emir, wanted alongside four others.
The Command, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi yesterday, said those declared wanted are individuals who were responsible for killing, maiming and assaulting residents of the state, reports The Nation.
Olamilekan said: “The command wants to declare the suspect, namely Dauda Olamilekan alias Emir, one Taoreed alias Small Rugged, Adetunji Kamoru Olatunde, Saka Afees (Terror) and Adeyemi Saheed wanted for various offences.
“After conducting in-depth intelligence-led investigation, the command identified these arrowheads who are behind the increasing spate of the political violence and thuggery activities.
“Members of the media and the larger community are urged to use all available means to inform these identified arrowheads to report to the Osun State Police Command.
“We are equally trailing them for arrest, and they will be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the law.”
The Nation recalls that political tension has risen in Osun since June during which several people including Olapade Ezekiel, a teenager in Ilobu, have been killed.
Others killed within the period are Comrade Abdullateef Olamilekan, 70-year-old Kazeem Akande in Osogbo, Ajayi Aderogba in Esa-Oke and one Eluyera in Ikire.
NURTW rejects government’s suspension order, inaugurates caretaker committee
The national leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has rejected the Osun State government’s suspension of the union’s activities, insisting that Governor Ademola Adeleke lacks the constitutional authority to halt its operations.
The union also inaugurated a seven-member caretaker committee to oversee its affairs in Osun State pending the resolution of the leadership crisis in the state chapter.
The caretaker committee, chaired by Kazeem Oyewale, popularly known as Asiri Eniba, was inaugurated yesterday at the union’s national headquarters in Garki, Abuja.
The development comes days after the Osun State government suspended the activities of the NURTW in motor parks across the state following violent clashes between rival factions of the union.
The state government, through the Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, said the suspension was aimed at restoring order and strengthening public security.
It also halted the collection of levies in motor parks and directed security agencies to arrest anyone parading himself as an official or executive of the union.
The action followed a violent confrontation in Osogbo after supporters of a faction led by Oyewale protested against the leadership of the state NURTW Chairman, Nurudeen Alowonle. The protest later degenerated into clashes, with reported gunfire causing panic among residents.
Reacting to the development, the NURTW national president, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, maintained that no state government has the legal authority to suspend the activities of the union.
Represented by the union’s Deputy National President, Aliyu Ore, Akinsanya said the NURTW was established by an Act of law and had previously secured favourable court judgments against similar actions by state governments.
“It would be recalled that in the last few months in Osun State, we lacked leadership of our union in Osun. Despite calling and sending a series of letters to invite our leadership in Osun, which they failed to honour, we heard they are on the run.
“We could not leave the activities of the union without having leadership on the ground. Today, we heard that the state governor in Osun suspended the activities of our union, which they don’t have the power to do.
“No state governor has the power to suspend the activities of the union because we are not under any state government. There is an Act that established the NURTW,” Ore said.
He said the inauguration of the caretaker committee became necessary to provide functional leadership for the union in Osun State, particularly ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.
According to him, the NURTW has a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the transportation of election materials.
“Most especially, we have an MoU with INEC. I was at INEC yesterday on the directive of the national president of our union. In view of this, we have to inaugurate the caretaker committee to oversee the leadership of the NURTW pending the resolution of all issues in Osun,” he said.
The caretaker committee comprises Kazeem Oyewale as chairman, Sunday Oludare as secretary, Lukman Ahmed as treasurer, while Ismaila Abdurahim, Adebayo Tajudin, Tajudin Akin and Ayinde Mutiu will serve as members.
Ore said the committee would administer the affairs of the union in Osun until the leadership dispute is resolved.
In his acceptance speech, Oyewale pledged to reposition the union and ensure strict adherence to both the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the NURTW constitution.
“We will take the union to greater heights. There will be a turnaround in the administration of the union, and we will operate strictly in accordance with the Constitution of Nigeria and that of the NURTW,” he said.
