Olusegun Adeyemo
The Osun State Command of the Amotekun Corps has accused a soldier of killing one of its operatives, 35-year-old Samuel Tope, in the Ijeda-Ijesa area of the state.
According to a statement issued by the Corps Commander, Mr. Adekunle Omoyele, and obtained by The Journal Nigeria on Sunday, the tragic incident occurred on Saturday evening when the deceased was allegedly attacked by a soldier identified as Opejobi Fiyinfoluwa, accompanied by yet-to-be-identified accomplices.
The statement alleged that the soldier, dressed in full military camouflage, approached the Amotekun office in Ijeda-Ijesa with hostile intent and made threatening remarks against the corps before launching the deadly assault.
“The incident happened around 5:45 p.m. when a recently recruited soldier, Opejobi Fiyinfoluwa, declared that he joined the Nigerian Army with the aim of ‘dealing decisively’ with Amotekun personnel,” Omoyele said.
The Corps further stated that while Officer Tope was riding a motorcycle, the soldier and his accomplices stopped him, pulled him off the bike, and attacked him with a blunt object. The vicious assault reportedly lasted over 20 minutes, leaving the operative with critical head injuries.
Bystanders and nearby residents reportedly made no move to intervene as the attack unfolded. The soldier and his group fled the scene immediately after the incident, allegedly escaping on a commercial motorcycle.
Tope was rushed by fellow operatives to Wesley Guild Hospital in Ilesa, where he later died in the early hours of Sunday while receiving treatment.
The Osun Amotekun leadership said the incident was promptly reported to the Divisional Police Headquarters in Ijebu-Jesa and the Nigerian Army Engineering Cantonment in Ede, where a formal complaint was lodged with Lt. Col. Yunusa Isyaku.
Commander Omoyele expressed deep sorrow over the loss and called for a full investigation by the relevant authorities.
“This act is not only barbaric but a direct attack on the security architecture of Osun State. We demand justice and will leave no stone unturned until those responsible are brought to book,” he stated.
As of press time, there has been no official response from the Nigerian Army regarding the allegations.