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Ten months after the deadly shooting in Akinlalu, Ife North Local Government Area of Osun State, families of two victims are still searching for the remains of their loved ones. Oyebamiji Ibrahim and Oyebamiji Ismaila were among four people who died following the September 30, 2025 incident, which residents blamed on operatives of the Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun. The security outfit, however, maintained that its personnel were involved in a gun battle. While the remains of the other victims are known to have been deposited at morgues in Ile-Ife and Osogbo, the whereabouts of Ibrahim and Ismaila remain unclear.
The incident sparked widespread outrage, with residents alleging that Amotekun operatives opened fire in the community and subsequently took away the bodies of those killed. Police investigations followed, with about 20 Amotekun operatives arrested in October 2025 over the killings, while the Inspector-General of Police ordered the Intelligence Response Team to take over the probe. Despite the arrests and ongoing investigation, the families say they have yet to receive clear information about where the two bodies were taken.
For the Oyebamiji family, the uncertainty has compounded their grief. Alaba Oyebamiji, the mother of Ismaila and Sefiu, appealed to the Osun State Government and other authorities to help recover her son’s remains so the family can give him a proper burial. She said the family received N10m in compensation, but most of the money was spent on Sefiu’s medical treatment before his death. Meanwhile, police say the investigation remains ongoing, while the Osun Amotekun spokesman declined to comment, citing the matter’s status in court.
