Controversy As Police Officer Shoots, Detains Amotekun Operatives In Oyo

Job Adewale, an operative of the Oyo State Security Network, Amotekun, was reportedly shot at close range by Ayodeji Adepoju, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at Igbon Police Station in Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State, Southwest Nigeria on Friday.

HumAngle gathered that the incident followed complaints by an aggrieved farmer who wrote a petition to Amotekun operatives in the area of an invasion of his farm by a herder with his cattle.

The farmer alleged that despite recent announcements by the authorities that open grazing was unlawful, some herdsmen have continued to graze on his farm at Gambari community, destroying his farm produce in the process.

After receiving the petition, two Amotekun operatives, Olatunji Mayowa and Jenyo Isiaka, arrested a suspect for questioning.

After his arrest, some other herdsmen in the community reported the incident to the DPO, who immediately ordered the arrest of the two Amotekun operatives.

This step did not go down well with the Amotekun commander in the community, Araoye Amoo, who stormed the police station to release his colleagues.

“As the leader of the Amotekun was discussing with the police station guard, the DPO just rushed out from inside the station, snatching an AK 47 rifle from an officer standing by, he cocked the weapon and sprayed volleys of bullets at the legs of the standing Amotekun,” eyewitness said.

“Amotekun Job Adewale was hit at close range on the right leg, breaking his right Tibia and Fibula bones. After emptying the magazine, DPO, Adepoju Ayodeji reloaded and released many shots.”

“And as the Amotekun operatives were trying to carry the wounded Adewale, the DPO continued shooting and pursued Amoo away outside the Station.”

Confirming the incident while speaking with newsmen, Col Olayinka Olayanju (rtd), the Amotekun commandant in Oyo State, said the injured Amotekun officer is currently receiving treatment at the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomosho.

“The DPO arrested and detained our men that arrested herdsmen. The unit commander led some of his people there to ask for the release of his men but the DPO was said to have shot them,” Olayinka added.

Meanwhile, the Police Command in Oyo State says its officers acted based on a report that Amotekun operatives were planning to set ablaze a Fulani settlement in the community.

“It was a report from the Secretary of Miyetti Allah, one, Oroji Allah ‘m’ at Orile Igbon Police Station that some Amotekun operatives planned to set ablaze Fulani ‘Igaa’,” Olugbenga Fadeyi, the Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State said in a statement.

“A team of policemen was sent to the scene and brought them to the station for amicable settlement by the DPO.” While keeping mum on the shooting, Fadeyi stressed that Amotekun corps numbering about 30 invaded the station and conducted themselves in an “unruly and riotous manner.”

“Three of them were arrested. The Area Commander Ogbomoso is handling the matter,” he added.

Amotekun is a regional security arrangement that began in July 2019 after governors of the six Southwest states, namely Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo agreed to its creation.

Seyi Makinde, Governor of Oyo State, signed the bill for its creation into law in March 2020, four days after the state House of Assembly passed the Oyo State Security Network Agency Bill 2020.

The security network was created to curb rising cases of insecurity in the Southwest. Speaking during the official flag-off, Kayode Fayemi, Governor of Ekiti State, explained that the creation of Amotekun was informed by the need to arrest the menace of insecurity that has afflicted the country.