Akinlalu Deaths Rise As Adeleke Orders Investigation

The death toll from Tuesday’s shooting in Akinlalu, Ifedayo Local Government Area of Osun State, has increased to four, following the death of another victim on Saturday morning.

The victims were allegedly shot by operatives of the Osun Amotekun Corps during an operation in the town.

Residents had accused the security outfit of storming the community and firing shots indiscriminately after claiming that a suspect had seized one of their locally made weapons. The confrontation reportedly left three people dead on the spot and eight others severely injured. One of the injured victims later died at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital in Osogbo after undergoing surgery.

According to community representative Babarinde Olamide, the operatives arrived in three vehicles and opened fire at the town centre, causing panic and chaos. He said some residents who attempted to flee were attacked with machetes, while the operatives allegedly took away the bodies of those killed and the injured victims.

In response to the outrage, Governor Ademola Adeleke has ordered an investigation into the incident. In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor described the development as tragic and assured residents that justice would be pursued within the law. He also directed a government delegation to visit the affected community and extended his condolences to the families of the victims.

Adeleke said his administration remains committed to upholding the rule of law and maintaining peace across the state, adding that a security council meeting has been convened to address the situation and other emerging threats.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State condemned the actions of the Amotekun operatives, describing the shooting as an act of intimidation. The party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, urged the governor to ensure transparency in the investigation and bring those responsible to justice, warning against attempts to cover up the killings.

The Akinlalu community remains tense as residents mourn the victims and await the outcome of the government’s investigation into the deadly clash.