Family, Amotekun, Police, Trade Words Over Killing Of Two In Osogbo

 

Kazeem Badmus

CONTROVERSIES have surrounded the killing of two traditional medicine sellers in Osogbo, Waheed Akinpelu and Kazeem Rasaq. 

Akinpelu and Rasaq were reportedly killed by officers of the South-West Security Network known as Amotekun on Tuesday at Balogun Agoro area, Osogbo, capital of the state.

But the Field Commandant of Amotekun corps, Com. Amitolu Shittu, denied the report, saying that his men were not involved in any shootout, not to talk of killing anybody. 

The death of the Osogbo indigenes have resulted into word trading between the families of the deceased, police and Amotekun.  

Amotekun Killed Our Children – Family Members

Speaking with newsmen on Wednesday, the family members of both Akinpelu and Rasaq alleged the State Southwest Security Network of the killing the two young men.

The family members accused Amotekun of trying to bury the truth by coming up with a cover story that it was members of two rival cult groups that attacked one another. 

According to the mother of late Akinpelu, the herbal medicine seller was shot alongside Rasaq, by the Amotekun officers where they were eating bread and beans.

She maintained that Akinpelu, who was her only son was not a cultist, calling on the government and people of the state to help her bring the killer of her son to justice. 

The bereaved woman said: “My son came home on Monday from Ijebu Ode where he went to sell his herbal medicine. He met me inside and told me he wanted to go out, I asked him where he was going again since he arrived not long. 

“He went to where a woman is selling bread and beans to eat and it was there the Amotekun corps killed him. My son was not a thief. He was not a cultist. He was the only one I have”.

An elder sister to the deceased who pleaded anonymity said: “The two deceased were eating when a female Amotekun Corps shot them. 

“The state government intervened on Tuesday and appealed to us to calm down, promising to get to the root of the matter. But to our greatest surprise, we heard a report this morning (Wednesday) where they (Amotekun) claimed that the deceased were cultists fighting one another. 

“That is a big lie. The police came to the scene of the incident and saw what happened.  Amotekun corps were the one who killed our children. They were not cultists. 

“We protested to the palace of the Ataoja and from there, we went to the house of the Field Commandant of Amotekun. On sighting us, the security guiding the house opened fire on us and we had to run for our lives. 

“On Wednesday, the Amotekun came to our area and threatened us with guns and we had to call the police authority who intervene by sending some officers to our area”.

Police Reveal How Victims Were Killed 

Reacting to the killing of the deceased, the Osun State Police Command said its preliminary investigation revealed that the deceased were allegedly killed by operatives of Amotekun corps.  

The police in a press release signed by its Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, on Wednesday, said the killing was what triggered some angry youths to attack the residence of Amotekun Field Commandant, Amitolu Shittu.

The statement read in parts; “The Osun State Police Command wishes to inform members of the public and to set the record straight concerning the unfortunate incident of 14th June, 2022 at about 9:00am, that led to the death of one Waheed Akinpelu and Kazeem Rasaq. 

“The preliminary investigation conducted revealed that, some youths at Sabo, plantation area of Osogbo, Osun State were allegedly attacked and shot by the South West Security Network (Amotekun Corps), which prompted some youths to embark on a protest against the action of the corps.

“In view of this, the house of the Field Marshal of the Amotekun corps, Comrade Amitolu Shittu was attacked by some angry youths and he immediately called for the assistance of the Police which the Commissioner of Police, CP Olawale Olokode, responded to by drafting officers to the scene to restore normalcy.”

Our Men Did Not Kill Anybody, Police Trying To Pull Us Down – Commandant

Reacting to the claim of the police, the Field Commandant of Amotekun corps, Amitolu Shittu, denied the report, saying the corps only made some arrest during the clash by suspected cultists in Osogbo. 

Shittu, while featuring on ‘Rave FM’ programme in Osogbo, yesterday, accused the police command of trying to malign the Amotekun corps with its hasty conclusion.

According to him, “Operatives of the command were on patrol on Tuesday when they saw some people running around a compound called ‘Asoje’ directly opposite Esuyale in Osogbo. The officers paused and waited for some times. Later, they saw some boys moving towards them and they apprehended one of them. The apprehended suspect was handed over to the Police Anti-Cultism there and they left immediately”.

He added that the direct attack on the corps by the Police was too disheartening for an agency of government. 

His words; “My men did not kill anyone. Anybody can issue statement saying all sort of lies to this world. I am less concerned. I don’t know what the police want to gain by disseminating lies and pulling down Amotekun. It is best known to them, the reason why they were so in haste and hellbent in pulling down Amotekun. That is a direct attack on us and it is too disheartening for an agency of government. 

“Amotekun was also alleged wrongly by the same institution when a journalist was shot at Olaiya when we were not there at all. 

“In the last three months, I have transferred over 50 cases to the police. I understand where the smoke is coming from and I want to tell you that, all those who believe they can bring down Amotekun are just chasing shadows”.