NURTW Crisis: Police Arrest Suspect, Recover Pump-Action Gun After Osogbo Shootout

The Osun State Police Command has arrested a suspect in connection with a gun duel that reportedly broke out during the ongoing crisis within the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state, leaving three police officers with gunshot injuries.

The command said the suspect, identified as Adedeji Saheed Opeyemi, was apprehended during an encounter between police operatives and a group of suspected hoodlums in the Oke-Ijetu area of Osogbo.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abiodun Ojelabi, disclosed the development on Tuesday while parading the suspect on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan.

According to the police spokesperson, the incident occurred after the command received a distress call at about 5:30 p.m on Monday, reporting that a group of hoodlums were allegedly shooting sporadically in the Oke-Ijetu area.

Ojelabi said operatives of the Anti-Robbery and Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) were immediately deployed to the area.

He said the suspects allegedly opened fire on the police team when the operatives arrived, resulting in three security personnel sustaining varying degrees of gunshot injuries.

The injured officers, according to the police, were taken to a hospital where they are currently receiving treatment. Ojelabi said the police team responded professionally and succeeded in arresting Opeyemi, while other suspects allegedly involved in the incident fled the scene.

He added that the police were intensifying efforts to apprehend those still at large.

“A team of Anti-Robbery and Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) personnel swung into action. On getting to the scene, the hoodlums, suspected to be members of a faction loyal to one Wakili Alowonle, started shooting at the police operatives, during which three security operatives sustained varying degrees of gunshot injuries and are responding to treatment in hospital,” Ojelabi said.

According to the police, preliminary investigations indicated that Opeyemi was allegedly in possession of a firearm handed to him by an individual identified as “Sibi”.

The suspect reportedly told investigators that Sibi had informed him that he had received a call from Wakili Alowonle directing them to assemble at Oke-Ijetu.

The police said Sibi allegedly arrived with two pump-action guns and handed one of them to Opeyemi.

Opeyemi, however, reportedly told the police that although he was carrying the weapon, he did not fire at the officers.

In an account attributed to him by the police, the suspect said the group had gathered following reports that another group was attempting to take control of a motor park.

He claimed that members of his group had been operating under a certificate for four years and were surprised when they arrived at the garage and found mobile policemen present. According to the suspect, their leaders subsequently mobilised members to attend a meeting at Ijetu.

He said Alowonle was not physically present at the meeting but allegedly spoke to them by telephone, instructing them not to cause trouble and to remain alert.

Opeyemi reportedly said Alowonle also told them not to engage in any confrontation until Governor Ademola Adeleke issued a directive. The suspect further claimed that five members of the group were armed when the police arrived.

He said he could not shoot and insisted that the firearm in his possession had been given to him by Sibi.

“Our people were arguing that those who wanted to take over the garage should be arrested and they started shooting at policemen,” the suspect was quoted as saying.

He added that he eventually handed the weapon over to the police, insisting that he had warned the group against confronting government security personnel.

“I held the gun. I didn’t shoot. I told them that we cannot fight government and I handed the gun to the police,” Opeyemi reportedly said.

The police said Opeyemi was assisting investigators with information that could lead to the arrest of other suspects believed to have participated in the incident.

The latest development comes amid continuing tensions within the NURTW in Osun State, where rival factions have been involved in disputes over control of motor parks and transport unions.

The command, however, did not disclose the precise circumstances surrounding the dispute that preceded Monday's shooting or provide details on the identity of all those allegedly involved.

In a separate operation, the Osun Police Command said it had arrested three suspects allegedly linked to the theft of a commercial motorcycle in Osogbo.

The suspects were identified as Kamarudeen Babatunde 39, Lekan Usman 22, and Moses Oyebade 40.

According to the police, the incident occurred on July 19, 2026, when a distress call was received at about 7:30 a.m from a complainant who reported that his Bajaj motorcycle, with registration number MEK 987 VU, had allegedly been snatched from its rider in the Osunjela area of Osogbo.

The command said its operatives commenced an intelligence-led investigation following the report. The motorcycle was subsequently traced to Modakeke, where police said it was recovered at about 9:30 a.m.

Two suspects, Babatunde and Usman, were arrested in connection with the alleged theft, while Oyebade was also arrested and described by the police as the alleged receiver of the stolen motorcycle.

The three suspects and the recovered motorcycle, according to the command, remain in police custody as investigations continue.

The police also announced the arrest of two other suspects accused of allegedly causing violence in Osogbo.

They were identified as Alawode Ridwan, 26, and Ajibade Ahmed, 33.

The command said it received a distress call at about 2:20 p.m. on July 16, 2026, reporting that the two suspects were allegedly causing mayhem in the Amadia area of Osogbo.

Police detectives were subsequently deployed to the area and arrested the suspects, according to Ojelabi.

The command said investigations into the various incidents were ongoing and that all suspects would be charged to court upon the completion of the investigations.

The police did not disclose whether the separate arrests were connected to the wider NURTW crisis in the state.

The command also reiterated its commitment to maintaining law and order across Osun, particularly in areas affected by clashes, political violence and criminal activities, while urging residents to report suspicious movements and security threats to the authorities.