Osun NURTW Clash: Emir Ajagunbade Buried As Police Recover Another Corpse

The Osun State Police Command has recovered a second body from the Mayfair Motor Park, Ile-Ife, where a deadly clash occurred on Sunday, taking the death toll from the incident to two.

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The development came on Monday as the remains of Accord Party chieftain, Olalekan Oyeyemi, popularly called Emir Ajagungbade, were laid to rest at his residence in the Agunbelewo area of Osogbo.

Oyeyemi was allegedly shot during a confrontation at the motor park involving him and members of a faction of the National Union of Road Transport Workers. A video shared online after the incident showed his body inside a vehicle.

Confirming the recovery, the police spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the motor park had been closed following the violence and that the newly recovered corpse had been taken to a morgue.

He said the investigation had been handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department, urging anyone mentioned in connection with the incident to report to the police instead of attempting to defend themselves on social media.

Ojelabi added that Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Zungura had ordered the arrest and prosecution of all persons found to have participated in the violence, irrespective of their positions or affiliations.

Oyeyemi's burial was conducted according to traditional rites in the presence of family members and traditional priests. Those who accompanied his remains from the Osun State University Teaching Hospital were reportedly kept outside while the rites were performed.

There was also tension at the hospital when suspected associates of the deceased allegedly attacked two workers over claims that they were filming events with their mobile phones. The arrival of additional police personnel later helped to restore order.

The killing reportedly occurred amid moves by some NURTW members to support Oyeyemi's emergence as the next state chairman of the transport union.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Sesan Oyedele, however, rejected allegations that he had endorsed Oyeyemi for the position on behalf of the state government.

Oyedele said some NURTW members visited his Modakeke residence on Sunday and asked him to support their choice of Oyeyemi. He explained that he only agreed to present their request to Governor Ademola Adeleke and other senior officials.

According to him, the visitors left his residence about two hours before he received news that Oyeyemi had been killed.

The commissioner appealed for calm, saying the government would continue working with relevant stakeholders to resolve the crisis and restore peace.