The killing of Olalekan Oyeyemi, popularly known as Emir Ajagungbade, a political associate of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and a figure within the state’s transport sector, has renewed concerns over the prolonged struggle for control of motor parks and the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Osun State.
Oyeyemi was shot during an attack at Mayfair Motor Park in Ile-Ife, amid an ongoing dispute involving rival factions within the transport union. The Osun State Police Command has commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killing and efforts to identify those responsible.
How Emir Was Attacked at Mayfair Motor Park
According to accounts cited by local media, Oyeyemi had travelled to Modakeke for a meeting involving NURTW stakeholders before returning towards Ile-Ife.
He and some associates reportedly stopped at a canteen near Mayfair Motor Park, where they had planned to eat before continuing their journey.
A source who claimed to have witnessed the incident told The Nation that some of the attackers were dressed in uniforms associated with a local security outfit. The source alleged that Oyeyemi was called out while eating before the attackers opened fire.
The same account alleged that Oyeyemi attempted to resist one of the attackers and struggled to seize a rifle before he was overpowered.
These claims have not been independently established by the police, and the identities and motives of those responsible remain subject to investigation.
NURTW Meeting Before the Killing
The attack reportedly occurred shortly after Oyeyemi attended a meeting with NURTW leaders at the residence of Osun State Commissioner for Transportation, Sesan Oyedele, in Modakeke.
According to multiple media reports, the meeting was connected to the longstanding leadership dispute within the state’s transport sector. One NURTW official, Gbadegesin, was quoted as saying that the commissioner told participants that the government supported Oyeyemi’s emergence as chairman of the transport union.
However, subsequent reporting indicated that the commissioner denied claims that he had endorsed Oyeyemi as the next NURTW chairman.
The conflicting accounts have added to questions surrounding what happened at the meeting and what followed afterward.
Questions Over Motor Park Control
Oyeyemi’s death has brought renewed attention to the fierce competition over control of motor parks in Osun State.
Reports indicate that rival NURTW factions had been involved in a prolonged leadership dispute, with the disagreement escalating into violence at motor parks in Ile-Ife. The Guardian reported that violence was recorded around the Mayfair, Sabo and Lagere areas following the shooting.
The incident also prompted Governor Adeleke to direct security agencies to investigate the killing and order rival groups to leave motor parks while the state moved toward establishing a new Park Management System.
Eyewitness Account Raises Further Questions
An eyewitness cited in reports claimed that Oyeyemi was pursued before being attacked and alleged that uniformed men were among those involved.
The witness also claimed that Oyeyemi was initially taken for medical attention after the shooting.
According to the account, the injured man was taken towards a hospital but was subsequently taken to a traditional healer following instructions from a family member who reportedly believed Oyeyemi possessed a spiritual ability described as “apaji.”
The witness alleged that traditional rites were performed before the herbalist eventually directed the group to take Oyeyemi to a hospital.
These details remain eyewitness allegations and have not been independently confirmed by the police.
Oyeyemi’s Controversial Past
The killing has also revived scrutiny of Oyeyemi’s previous involvement in disputes within Osun’s transport sector.
Before his death, Oyeyemi had faced criminal allegations in court. In 2024, a Federal High Court in Osogbo granted him bail in a case involving charges that included conspiracy, unlawful killing and acts of terrorism. He had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The existence of those previous legal proceedings has become part of the wider discussion surrounding his death, although past allegations or pending legal proceedings should not be treated as proof of responsibility for the latest violence.
Police Probe Killing
The Osun State Police Command has said it is investigating the circumstances surrounding Oyeyemi’s death, including the immediate and remote causes of the shooting and the identities of those responsible.
Police authorities have urged residents to remain calm and warned against reprisal attacks or further violence.
The investigation gained further significance after police later recovered another corpse from the Mayfair Motor Park while enforcing the state’s directive suspending NURTW activities. The identity and circumstances surrounding that death were also under investigation.
What Happened to Emir?
At this stage, several aspects of the killing remain unresolved, including:
- Who organised and carried out the attack?
- What was the precise motive for targeting Oyeyemi?
- Was the killing directly connected to the NURTW leadership dispute?
- Were any uniformed security personnel involved, as alleged by an eyewitness?
- What role, if any, did the earlier meeting in Modakeke play?
- Who will ultimately be held responsible for the violence?
The police investigation is expected to provide clearer answers to these questions.
For now, Oyeyemi’s killing has exposed once again the intensity of the struggle surrounding motor park administration in Osun State, while raising broader concerns about security, political influence and competing interests within the state’s transport sector.
The authorities’ response, including the suspension of NURTW activities and plans for a new Park Management System, is likely to shape the next phase of the dispute.