By Opeyemi Adelakun
Ten months after the deadly shooting that shook Akinlalu community in Ife North Local Government Area of Osun State, families of two victims are still searching for the remains of their loved ones.
The victims, identified as Oyebamiji Ibrahim and Oyebamiji Ismaila, were among four people who died following the September 30, 2025 incident, which residents linked to an operation by the Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun.
While the remains of the other two victims are known to have been taken to morgues, the families of Ibrahim and Ismaila said they were yet to establish where their loved ones’ bodies were taken after the incident.
The development has left the affected families unable to perform burial rites or obtain closure nearly a year after the tragedy.
The incident occurred when residents alleged that Amotekun operatives arrived in Akinlalu and opened fire in the community.
The security outfit, however, gave a different account, maintaining that its personnel were involved in a prolonged gun battle with the victims.
A community leader, Babarinde Olamide, said the confrontation followed an incident involving a locally fabricated firearm allegedly seized from a suspect.
According to him, Amotekun operatives arrived in three vehicles and began shooting after reaching the town centre.
Olamide alleged that three people were killed at the scene, while several others sustained serious injuries.
He further said the bodies of some of those killed and injured were taken away by the operatives.
One of the injured victims, he added, later died at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital in Osogbo after undergoing surgery.
Four victims, different outcomes
The four victims reportedly had different outcomes after the incident.
Abiola Olutayo, who was injured during the confrontation, later died at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.
Sefiu Oyebamiji, another victim who sustained injuries, was initially treated and discharged but reportedly died about two months ago.
The remains of the two victims were subsequently deposited at morgues in Osogbo and Ile-Ife.
However, the families of Ibrahim and Ismaila said they had received no clear information about the location of their remains.
Musibau Adeboye, the Youth Leader of Akinlalu, said the community had approached the Osun State Government and other authorities over the issue.
He said letters had been sent to the government through the state Attorney-General, while the community had also approached the House of Assembly.
“We have approached the government and the House of Assembly several times because we want the remains released. We were told that the Commissioner of Police should handle the matter,” Adeboye said.
He said the community had heard that the bodies might have been deposited at the State Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo, but added that the information had not been independently confirmed.
Adeboye appealed to the state government to intervene and help the families recover the remains.
Mother seeks closure
For Mrs Alaba Oyebamiji, the uncertainty has made the tragedy even more painful.
She lost her sons, Ismaila and Sefiu, in connection with the incident. Although the location of Sefiu’s remains is known, she said the family was still searching for Ismaila’s body.
Speaking by telephone, the grieving mother said the prolonged uncertainty had placed considerable emotional and psychological pressure on the family.
She said several appeals had been made to the relevant authorities but without success.
“We have continued to appeal to the authorities because we want to recover our children and give them a proper burial. The uncertainty has been extremely difficult for the entire family,” she said.
Mrs Oyebamiji also said the family was willing to explore an out-of-court resolution because it lacked the financial resources to pursue prolonged litigation.
“We have told the authorities that we are ready for an out-of-court settlement because we cannot afford a long legal battle. All we are asking for is the release of the remains so we can bury our loved ones,” she pleaded.
She said the family received N10m compensation from the Osun State Government but explained that most of the money went into Sefiu’s medical expenses before his eventual death.
According to her, only N20,000 remained from the compensation by the time he died.
Amotekun operatives arrested
The incident also resulted in increased scrutiny of the Osun State Amotekun Command.
At least 20 personnel were reportedly arrested on October 8, 2025, following police raids on Amotekun offices in Ife and Osogbo over alleged involvement in the incident.
The commandant of the corps, Isaac Omoyele, was also invited for questioning but initially failed to appear before the police.
The corps later said Omoyele had voluntarily reported at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
The then Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, subsequently directed the Intelligence Response Team to take over the investigation.
Despite the arrests and subsequent investigation, the whereabouts of Ibrahim and Ismaila’s remains remain unresolved.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Osun State Amotekun Corps, Yusuf Idowu, declined to comment, saying the matter was before the court.
“The matter is still before the court. Therefore, I cannot comment on it for now,” he said.
The police, however, maintained that the investigation had not been abandoned.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Ani Iniedu, said the probe was still in progress.
“Probe ongoing. Will update you shortly,” he stated.
For the Akinlalu community and the affected families, the passage of 10 months has done little to ease the pain.
The families are still seeking answers about what happened on September 30, 2025, while relatives of Ibrahim and Ismaila continue to demand information about the whereabouts of their remains.
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