Osun Police Recover Second Corpse After Ile-Ife Park Clash

The Osun State Police Command has confirmed the recovery of another corpse at the Mayfair Motor Park in Ile-Ife, bringing the death toll from Sunday’s violent clash at the park to two.

The development came as Olalekan Oyeyemi, popularly known as Emir Ajagungbade, an Accord Party chieftain and ally of Governor Ademola Adeleke, was buried at his newly completed residence in the Agunbelewo area of Osogbo on Monday.

Oyeyemi was reportedly shot dead during a clash involving rival factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers at the Mayfair Motor Park.

Following the incident, Adeleke directed the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, to arrest those responsible for the killing and ensure they face the law.

The governor also ordered the closure of motor parks affected by the crisis and directed security agencies to restore peace and maintain law and order across the state.

He further announced the reintroduction of the Park Management System, saying an Executive Order would soon be issued to provide legal backing for the arrangement.

Confirming the recovery of the second corpse on Monday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the body had been deposited at the morgue while the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department.

He said, “The governor has decided that the park should not operate. The park has not been operating. A corpse was also recovered by the police, and it has been deposited at the morgue.

“The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation. Those being mentioned in connection with the crime should go to the nearest police station to report themselves rather than going to social media to defend themselves.

“The Commissioner of Police has promised that all those involved will be apprehended and face the law, irrespective of who they are.”

Oyeyemi’s remains were buried on Monday afternoon after traditional burial rites were performed at his residence.

The ceremony was conducted by traditionalists and witnessed by close family members and a few associates, while other people who accompanied his remains from the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, were reportedly kept outside the premises.

The atmosphere was tense at the hospital earlier in the day after suspected associates of the deceased allegedly attacked two workers for reportedly recording proceedings with their phones.

Additional police personnel were later deployed to the hospital to prevent further disturbances and restore normalcy.

Oyeyemi’s killing has been linked to a dispute over the leadership of the NURTW in the state, with some union members reportedly backing him to become the next state chairman.

However, the Commissioner for Transportation, Sesan Oyedele, has denied claims that he told NURTW leaders that the state government had endorsed Oyeyemi for the position.

Two NURTW leaders in Ile-Ife, Gbadagesin and Kazeem Akeem, had alleged in videos circulating on social media that Oyedele summoned them to his residence in Modakeke on Sunday and told them that the government had chosen Oyeyemi as the next chairman of the union.

Oyedele dismissed the claim, saying the person who made the video was not present at the meeting.

He explained that members of the union contacted him on Thursday after a meeting involving representatives from various branches and asked to meet with him.

According to him, although he initially asked them to visit his office on Monday, they opted to come to his residence on Sunday morning.

Oyedele said the union members told him they had agreed that Oyeyemi should become the next NURTW chairman and asked him to support their position.

He said he responded that he would present their request to the governor, the Chief of Staff and other officials when Adeleke returned to the state.

“That was our agreement before they left. It was after two hours after they left my house that I was called that Emir had been killed,” he said.

The commissioner urged residents to remain calm, assuring them that efforts were underway to resolve the crisis.

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