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By Christopher Oji
The Osuke community in Ogun State has sent a save-our-souls to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, and the Ogun State Government to come to their rescue in the face of constant harassment by land-grabbers who want to sack them from their ancestral home and take over.
Those w,orst hit are members of the Ileke family who have lost a family member shot dead during last week’s attack on the community by the land-grabbers, while two others were badly injured.
The Osuke community has called on the police and the state government to urgently investigate the killing of Saheed Jinadu Shoboyede and the ongoing unrest in the community, to prevent further bloodshed.
While Shoboyejo was killed during an attack on Thursday last week by over one hundred armed hoodlums who were reportedly led by a notorious land-grabber known as Killer, another member of the community was injured three days before then.
At the time of filing this report, there was still tension, fear and apprehension in Osuje, even as some people are fleeing for safer places as assailants boasted that they would come back at a time least expected.
A resident of the area who spoke on the condition of anonymity told Daily Sun, “We are tenants in the community. So, I don’t want my family to die for a crime we don’t know anything about. I have decided to relocate my family. Last Thursday, about a hundred fully armed men in vehicles, including Okada, invaded the area, shooting sporadically, and we ran inside the house for cover. We later heard that the gunmen shot dead one person and injured others.”
Another resident who also did not give his name said he was surprised that the the leaders of the gunmen were seen walking freely at police headquarters in Ogun State the following day after the shooting: “I was at police headquarters in Abeokuta and I saw the same man, Killer, in the midst of senior police officers. I was wondering why he came to the police and I was watching from afar, thinking that he had been arrested by the police, but I was disappointed when I saw him leaving the headquarters. With what I witnessed, I don’t think the Osuke community will get justice. For that reason, I am moving out of the community. Two persons have died in the continuous attacks and nobody has been arrested and the perpetrators are fraternizing and hobnobbing with senior police officers.”
In a petition to the Commissioner of Police and the Ogun State House of Assembly, the Ileke family alleged that armed attacks orchestrated by known individuals continue to threaten their safety and violate court rulings that affirmed their ownership of disputed land.
At a press briefing in Lagos on Tuesday, a legal practitioner, Olanrewaju Balogun, a member of the family, noted that Osuke has become a flashpoint of violence, with armed groups allegedly led by Elijah (aka Killer) terrorizing residents.
He added that despite securing judgments from both the Ogun State High Court and the Court of Appeal confirming their rightful ownership of the land, the Ileke family claims they have faced constant attacks, police intimidation, and threats from rival factions determined to take control of the area.
“The police in Ogun State have been compromised,” the family stated in their petition. “We demand an independent and thorough investigation into the killing of our brother, Saheed Jinadu Shoboyede, and all other violent incidents linked to Elijah and his men. If no action is taken, more innocent lives will be lost.”
The Ileke family decried the series of violent events that have left Osuke residents in fear. They alleged that, on February 24, 2025, gunmen shot and wounded Rasak Yusuf and an excavator operator working on a road construction project linking Itele and Osuke. Three days later, on February 27, another person, Shoboyede, was allegedly shot dead by Killer and his gang in broad daylight.
Witnesses claimed that, before his death, Shoboyede identified Elijah as his attacker.
The family further alleged that the suspects attempted to take away the body to destroy evidence but were stopped by residents, who transported the wounded man to the police area command in Sango, before he succumbed to his injuries.
Despite multiple reports to the police, the Ileke family said no decisive action has been taken.
They expressed fear that Elijah, who has previously faced murder charges that were mysteriously dropped, may once again evade justice.
The family has now turned to the highest levels of law enforcement and governance, urging the IGP and the Ogun State House of Assembly to intervene before the situation spirals further out of control
“We cannot afford to lose more lives,” the petition stated. “Osuke is becoming a war zone because of the unchecked activities of these individuals. If security agencies do not act swiftly, the violence will escalate, and more people will die.”
The Ileke family is also calling on the Ogun State Government to take up the case and ensure that those responsible for the killings and violent attacks are brought to justice.
They also confirmed that the case of Elijah has raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of the justice system in Ogun State.
It was recalled that he was previously charged with murder, only for the Ogun State Ministry of Justice to withdraw the case after four years, despite the Director of Public Prosecutions initially advising that he had a case to answer.
Now, with another killing allegedly linked to him, the family is demanding accountability.
“The authorities cannot continue to look away,” they insisted. “If justice is not served, it will send a dangerous message that criminals can act with impunity while innocent families continue to suffer.”
The Ileke family appealed for law enforcement to take decisive action before the community descends into chaos while also calling on the police, the Ogun State Government, and the federal authorities to ensure that justice is done and lasting peace is restored.
Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), CSP Omolola Odutola, confirmed the killing , adding that the State Criminal Investigations Department ( SCID) has taken over the investigation of the incident.
However, she could not confirm at the time of filing this report if anybody had been arrested in connection with the killing.
