Police Parade Suspects Linked To Rising Political Violence In Osun
Osun State Police Command has arrested Kareem Saheed, popularly known as “Tanfeani,” over the alleged murder of 14-year-old Olapade Ezekiel in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State.
OSUN DEFENDER reported that Olapade was killed, while another person sustained injuries after political thugs opened fire at her mother’s palm wine shop, opposite the local government secretariat on Sunday afternoon. A statement by Osun Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi said Tanfeani along with other thugs stormed the victim’s mother’ stall on Sunday, 21 June, 2026 and started shooting. In the process, the bullet hit Ezekiel Olapade, and he died at the spot.
Eye-witnesses also stated that the assailants came in a branded bus belonging to the Osun APC Governorship candidate.
Briefing journalists at the Command Headquarters in Osogbo on Monday, the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, said a total of 24 suspects, including Saheed, had been arrested in connection with political violence and cult-related offences across the state.
He said those arrested included suspects linked to another political clash in Okinni, Egbedore Local Government Area, on Saturday, June 27.
“The suspects are Oyeladun Muideen, Ridwan Adekola, Mukaila Azeez, Sunday Friday, Olamilekan Fatai, Tiamiyu Ismail, Famuyiwa Toib, Ajiboye Toheed, Morufu Sodiq, Folorunso Moshood.
“Hassan Sodiq, Badiru Saheed, Adegoke Olalekan, Faruk Olawale, Iyanuoluwa Sarumi, Afolabi Ahmed, Adeshina Lukman, Mutiu Opeyemi, Olusola Daniel, Abiola Olabode.
Others included: “Azeez Abiodun, Babatunde Kehinde and Dada Mayowa.”
The police commissioner reiterated the Command’s commitment to maintaining law and order before, during and after the forthcoming elections.
“I am using this opportunity to warn all criminally minded individuals, including cultists, political thugs and other troublemakers, to desist from acts capable of disrupting public peace and order or face the full wrath of the law,” Gotan said.
Reponding to journalists on the motive behind the killing, Tanfeani who vehemently denied involvement in the murder, claimed he was being framed by members of the Accord Party.
He insisted that he was not at the scene of the incident on the day the teenager was killed.
“The video that went viral on social media was recorded on Friday when some Accord Party thugs, led by individuals identified as Asibu and Bebo, allegedly invaded the local government secretariat with guns concealed in their vehicles.
“I seized one of the guns and later handed it over to an Accord Party leader who came to the council with them. I was not at the scene when the boy was killed,” he claimed.
Police said investigations into the incident and other cases of political violence are ongoing.
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
