Osun 2026: Police declare ‘Emir,’ four others wanted over alleged political violence

The Osun State Police Command has declared five suspected political thugs wanted over their alleged involvement in a series of violent attacks across the state, as security agencies intensify efforts to prevent a breakdown of law and order ahead of the 2026 Osun State governorship election.

The move comes amid growing concerns over escalating political violence in several communities, where recent clashes have resulted in deaths, injuries and widespread tension.

In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, the command identified the wanted suspects as Dauda Olamilekan, popularly known as Emir, Taoreed (alias Small Rugged), Adetunji Kamoru Olatunde, Saka Afees (alias Terror) and Adeyemi Saheed.

According to the police, the declaration followed weeks of intelligence gathering and investigations into violent incidents allegedly linked to political thuggery in different parts of the state.

The command alleged that the suspects are among the principal actors responsible for the recent wave of killings, assaults, intimidation and other criminal activities that have heightened political tension ahead of the governorship poll.

The command wants to declare the suspects wanted for various offences after an in-depth intelligence-led investigation identified them as key figures behind the increasing spate of political violence and thuggery in the state.

The police appealed to members of the public, community leaders and the media to assist security agencies with credible information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects.

It also urged the wanted individuals to surrender themselves at the Osun State Police Command, warning that officers have already commenced efforts to track them down and that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

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The declaration forms part of a broader security strategy by the Nigeria Police Force to curb election-related violence and reassure residents that adequate measures are being taken to safeguard lives and property before political campaigns gather full momentum.

The police have repeatedly warned political actors, supporters and youth groups against sponsoring or participating in violence, insisting that anyone involved in criminal activities will face prosecution irrespective of political affiliation.

Political tension has continued to rise across Osun State since June, with several deadly attacks reported in different communities.

Among those reportedly killed are Olapade Ezekiel, a teenager from Ilobu; Comrade Abdullateef Olamilekan; 70-year-old Kazeem Akande in Osogbo; Ajayi Aderogba in Esa-Oke; and Eluyera in Ikire.

The recurring violence has heightened fears among residents and prompted renewed calls from civil society organisations, traditional rulers and community leaders for stronger security measures to guarantee peaceful political activities ahead of the election.

Governor Ademola Adeleke has repeatedly condemned political violence and directed security agencies to arrest and prosecute anyone found sponsoring or participating in attacks, regardless of political affiliation.

The governor has maintained that the state government remains committed to ensuring a peaceful and credible governorship election, while urging political stakeholders to embrace dialogue instead of violence.

NURTW crisis adds fresh security concerns

Meanwhile, the security situation has been further complicated by the leadership crisis rocking the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Osun State.

The National Executive Council of the NURTW has rejected the Osun State Government’s directive suspending the union’s activities across motor parks, insisting that the state government lacks the constitutional authority to halt the operations of the union.

The union also inaugurated a seven-member caretaker committee to oversee its affairs in Osun pending the resolution of the leadership dispute.

The committee is chaired by Kazeem Oyewale, popularly known as Asiri Eniba, with Sunday Oludare serving as secretary, Lukman Ahmed as treasurer, while Ismaila Abdurahim, Adebayo Tajudin, Tajudin Akin and Ayinde Mutiu will serve as members.

The development followed the Osun State Government’s suspension of NURTW activities in motor parks after violent clashes between rival factions disrupted commercial activities and raised fresh security concerns.

The state government also ordered an immediate halt to the collection of levies in motor parks and directed security agencies to arrest anyone parading himself as a union executive in defiance of the directive.

The crisis escalated after supporters of rival factions clashed in Osogbo, with reports of gunfire triggering panic among residents and businesses.

Reacting to the suspension, NURTW National President Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, through the union’s Deputy National President, Aliyu Ore, maintained that no state government has the legal authority to suspend the activities of the union because it was established under Nigerian law.

Ore explained that the inauguration of the caretaker committee became necessary because the Osun chapter had operated without effective leadership for several months.

He also disclosed that the union has an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the transportation of election materials, making it essential to maintain a functional leadership structure ahead of the governorship election.

According to him, the caretaker committee will administer the affairs of the union until all pending leadership disputes are resolved.

Accepting the appointment, caretaker committee chairman Kazeem Oyewale pledged to reposition the union and ensure strict compliance with both the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the NURTW Constitution.

As preparations for the 2026 Osun governorship election gather pace, security agencies have reiterated their commitment to maintaining law and order, warning political parties, supporters and interest groups against any action capable of undermining peace.

The police stressed that ongoing investigations into recent attacks remain active and urged residents to provide timely and credible information that could assist in preventing further violence and ensuring that those responsible are brought before the courts.

Osun 2026: Police declare ‘Emir,’ four others wanted over alleged political violence

IG Orders Police to Shoot Anyone Carrying Illegal Firearms Nationwide

• IGP Olatunji Disu invokes Force Order 237, declares ‘no mercy’ for illegal gun carriers in new security crackdown following President Tinubu’s directive to end Benue State crisis

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has issued a sweeping directive ordering police officers across Nigeria to shoot on sight anyone found carrying illegal firearms, marking one of the toughest security measures adopted by the Nigeria Police Force in recent years as the government intensifies efforts to curb the proliferation of illegal weapons and restore public safety across the country .

The directive was announced on Friday during a high-level stakeholders’ security meeting at the Benue State Government House in Makurdi, where the police chief declared that law enforcement agencies would no longer tolerate the unchecked proliferation of illegal weapons or the activities of armed groups responsible for persistent attacks on communities that have left hundreds dead and thousands displaced in recent months . The meeting was attended by government officials, traditional rulers, community leaders, and other security stakeholders who had gathered to find lasting solutions to the worsening security situation in the state .

According to Disu, the order followed President Bola Tinubu’s directive that the prolonged insecurity in Benue State must be decisively addressed, assuring residents that security agencies had been mandated to take more proactive and robust action against those threatening lives and property across the state . The police chief described the insecurity in Benue State as unacceptable and a source of “sleepless nights” for residents and security agencies, noting that Benue was once known as a peaceful and hospitable state with a thriving agricultural economy but had been overtaken by violence that now threatens national food security .

Disu explained that the order is anchored on Force Order 237, the Nigeria Police Force operational guideline governing the use of firearms by officers in situations involving imminent threats to life, adding that police personnel have been fully briefed on the provisions of the order and no longer require approval from superior officers before responding to armed threats where immediate action is necessary . “We have given them instructions. We have a Force Order 237. Police officers have been instructed that they don’t need to wait for any superior order. They know where to deploy their firearms,” Disu stated, emphasizing that the directive empowers officers to act decisively in the face of armed danger without bureaucratic delays that could cost lives .

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The police chief said the directive was also aimed at protecting security personnel who have increasingly come under attack while responding to incidents across the country, lamenting the continued killing of police officers, soldiers, and other security agents by armed criminals who have shown no regard for law and order . “We are tired of losing our men. We are tired of police officers, soldiers, and other members of the security agencies dying anyhow. They have been instructed to shoot at sight. They have been trained to do what is necessary. But we will not succeed without the cooperation of all of you,” he declared, stressing that law enforcement agencies were determined to protect their officers while carrying out their constitutional duties .

Disu stressed that only members of authorised security agencies are legally permitted to bear firearms, warning that anyone found openly carrying illegal weapons would henceforth be regarded as an armed threat and treated accordingly . “You cannot move around freely carrying arms as if there is no law and order in this country. It will not be tolerated,” he said, issuing a stern warning to those who have turned the possession of illegal firearms into a status symbol or a tool of intimidation against innocent citizens .

The directive comes against a backdrop of repeated attacks by armed groups across Benue State in recent months, resulting in the loss of lives, displacement of thousands of residents, and destruction of property worth millions of naira . Just days before the IGP’s directive, gunmen attacked Ankpechi community in Ohimini Local Government Area, forcing over 1,000 residents to flee their homes and seek refuge in neighbouring communities . In another recent incident, at least eight people—including three children—were killed in Otukpo Local Government Area, with police describing the attack as “purely a terrorist attack” and launching a manhunt for the perpetrators .

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, who was present at the stakeholders’ meeting, appreciated the IGP’s visit, describing it as timely and a demonstration of the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to tackling insecurity through community policing and collaboration with state governments . Alia regretted that attacks on communities in the state had resulted in the loss of many lives, disruption of farming activities, and threats to national food security, while also commending the efforts of the Nigerian Police and other security agencies in their ongoing fight against armed groups in the state .

The IGP called on residents to support security agencies with credible intelligence, stressing that public cooperation remains critical to the fight against insecurity and the success of ongoing security operations . He noted that intelligence gathered from local residents remains one of the most effective tools in combating insecurity and dismantling criminal networks, adding that community members should see themselves as partners in the fight against crime rather than mere spectators . “The Nigeria Police Force will not succeed without the cooperation of all of you,” Disu emphasised, maintaining that officers would continue to operate within the law while taking decisive action against individuals posing immediate danger to public safety .

The development follows the IGP’s earlier warning to officers against the reckless use of firearms and abuse of power . During a police leadership engagement in Uyo, Disu had said: “Impunity ends now. Any officer who misuses his weapon, who kills a citizen without lawful justification, will be dismissed and prosecuted. Not transferred. Not queried. Not redeployed. No badge is a license to kill. No uniform is a shield from justice,” demonstrating the police chief’s commitment to balancing the use of force with accountability and respect for human rights . In a related development, the IGP reiterated the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to tackling the spread of illegal firearms across the country ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning during a meeting with officials of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons that the continued circulation of illegal arms remains a major threat to national security and peaceful elections .

IG Orders Police to Shoot Anyone Carrying Illegal Firearms Nationwide

Troops, Hunters Arrest Five Suspected Kidnappers, Seize Weapons in Yobe

• Operation HADIN KAI troops and local hunters conduct coordinated intelligence-led raid in Jegalari Village, recover firearms and mobile phones as military intensifies crackdown on criminal networks in North-East

Troops of Sector 2, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), working alongside members of the Yobe State Hunters Group, have arrested five suspected kidnappers during a coordinated intelligence-led operation in Jegalari Village, Fune Local Government Area of Yobe State, in a major breakthrough that underscores the military’s renewed commitment to dismantling criminal networks operating across the North-East region.

The operation, which was carried out on July 23, 2026, at approximately 2:00 p.m., involved troops of the 233 Battalion based at the Damaturu Military Cantonment and followed credible intelligence indicating the activities of suspected criminal elements within the community, according to security expert Zagazola Makama, who first disclosed the operation on social media. The successful raid came after days of surveillance and intelligence gathering on the suspected kidnappers’ hideout, demonstrating the effectiveness of collaboration between military forces and local security stakeholders.

The arrested suspects have been identified as Hassan Lawan (28), Isah Bello (30), Haruna Suleiman (20), Ibrahim Bello (20), and Ahmadu Haruna (19) , with preliminary investigation revealing that the suspects are indigenes of Ririn Village in Rano Local Government Area of Kano State. The suspects, who identified themselves as members of the Fulani ethnic group and claimed to be cattle rearers, are now in military custody as investigations continue into their alleged involvement in kidnapping and other criminal activities that have terrorized communities in Yobe State and surrounding areas.

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During the operation, security personnel recovered a significant cache of weapons and items, including three locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, one locally made pistol, two rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, 12 rounds of 9mm pistol ammunition, three Tecno mobile phones, and one Android phone . The recovery of these weapons, particularly the locally fabricated rifles, suggests a sophisticated level of arms manufacturing or acquisition that raises concerns about the proliferation of illegal firearms in the region and the potential connection of the suspects to larger criminal syndicates.

Confirming the development in a statement issued on Friday, the Acting Military Information Officer at the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, said the raid followed actionable intelligence on the activities of the suspected criminal elements, adding that the suspects and the recovered exhibits have been taken into military custody for further investigation to determine their involvement in kidnapping and other related criminal activities. Goni reaffirmed that Operation HADIN KAI remains resolute in its commitment to denying terrorists and other criminal elements freedom of action across the North East through sustained intelligence-driven operations that target not only Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists but also the growing threat of kidnapping and banditry affecting communities in Yobe, Borno, and Adamawa states.

According to security sources, the security situation in the area has been calm following the operation, although security forces remain on alert to prevent any retaliatory or related criminal activities, reflecting the military’s awareness that such operations often trigger reprisal attacks or the relocation of criminal elements to other areas. The successful operation forms part of ongoing intelligence-driven efforts by Operation HADIN KAI and other security stakeholders to dismantle kidnapping and criminal networks operating across the North-East and adjoining states, with the military increasingly adopting a proactive rather than reactive approach to security threats in the region.

The military also appealed to residents to remain alert and continue supporting security agencies by providing useful information that could help prevent criminal activities, emphasizing that community cooperation remains vital to the success of counter-insurgency and anti-crime operations. “Timely and credible information from law-abiding citizens remains critical to ongoing efforts to safeguard communities and enhance security across the region,” the statement added, underscoring the military’s recognition that sustainable peace and security can only be achieved through partnership between security forces and the communities they serve. Local community leaders in Fune LGA have welcomed the operation, expressing hope that the arrests will bring relief to residents who have lived in fear of kidnapping attacks in recent months.

Troops, Hunters Arrest Five Suspected Kidnappers, Seize Weapons in Yobe