From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Residents of Itapa community in Atakumosa East Local Government of Osun State, on Wednesday, June 4, stormed the office of the Osun Amotekun Corps in Osogbo to protest the detention of five community chiefs.
Led by the Odofin of Itapa, Chief Olusegun Owoeye, the community carried placards with inscriptions such as: “Our chiefs are not criminals,” “What a molestation: Osun State Amotekun de-robes community chiefs,” and “Osun Amotekun are terrorists,” among others.
Speaking with journalists, Owoeye alleged that the community has been deserted following the unlawful arrest of traditional chiefs, while students writing the West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE) have fled the town.
He called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and save the community from harassment and intimidation by personnel of the Amotekun Corps in the state.
“We are here because of the bad attitude of Osun State Amotekun that came to our community and started arresting our fellow brothers and chiefs.
“They came to our community some days ago to pick up two of our security outfits. They started arresting our chiefs and locked them up. They said they are special corps. We learnt that IBK is their godfather.
“Some people in the community gave Amotekun money so that they can assist them to make sure that they silence us in the community. We are for the release of our chiefs and other security outfit. They should release them now. We are calling on the federal government, President Bola Tinubu, to come to our aid. We are for peace. We need Tinubu to give us freedom from Amotekun in Osun.
“The police are aware of this gang-up. The community is deserted. Nobody is staying there again. The students who are writing WAEC have run for their lives,” Owoeye said.
Reacting, Osun Amotekun Corps Commandant, Dr. Adekunle Omoyele, said those arrested by Amotekun were being investigated for criminal activities, adding that the corps has laid down procedures for arrest and investigation, which it followed to the letter in this case.
“We arrested suspects with a pump action rifle, who claimed to be members of a vigilante in the state. The people they mentioned during investigation were also arrested and are being investigated. There is no need to drag politics into a pure criminal issue. We will conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and ensure that justice is dispensed in the case,” Omoyele said.
The corps had paraded Chief Adeyeri Olalekan (35), Chief Adeyeri Ladele (36), Chief Sunday Adeyeri (53), Chief Ariyo Dare (40), and Chief Ogunsola Oladele (45), for alleged kidnapping and attempted murder.