Osun Amotekun Commander Survives Shocking Assassination Bid

Osun Amotekun Commander Survives Shocking Assassination Bid: 

Gunmen Unleash Barrage in OsogboIn a chilling escalation of insecurity plaguing Nigeria's Southwest, the Commander of the Osun State Amotekun Corps, High Chief Dr. Hon. Adekunle Isaac Omoyele, narrowly escaped death in a brazen ambush by masked gunmen late Monday night. The attack, which left his vehicle riddled with bullets and the commander nursing gunshot wounds, has ignited fears over targeted hits on security enforcers tasked with curbing regional crime. As Osogbo reels from the audacious assault, questions swirl about the motives behind this high-stakes showdown on a quiet highway.

      How the incident started by the Victim 

The ordeal unfolded around 10:05 PM along Ikirun Road in the Kobo Area of Osogbo, Osun State's bustling capital. Omoyele, fresh from duty at the Amotekun headquarters, was driving solo in his two-door private vehicle toward home when the nightmare began. "I had left the office driving home," Omoyele recounted from his hospital bed, his voice steady despite the trauma. "When I got to Kobo, some armed men suddenly in a moving vehicle double-sided by my car and started firing. Their faces were covered, and before I could react, they opened fire on my vehicle. Bullets riddled the car. I didn’t stop. I kept driving through the hail of gunfire. I was hit, but I managed to escape." Medical sources confirm he's stable at an undisclosed facility, under heavy guard, with injuries not deemed life-threatening.

Eyewitnesses described a scene straight out of an action thriller:

 assailants in a speeding vehicle pulled alongside, unleashing a fusillade that shattered windows and pierced the chassis. The commander's quick reflexes—flooring the accelerator amid the chaos—likely saved his life. But the horror didn't end there. Hours later, in a coordinated follow-up that reeks of premeditation, about 15 masked gunmen stormed Omoyele's private residence. Arriving in a Hilux van and a Toyota Highlander SUV, they ransacked the property, witnesses said, heightening suspicions of a multi-pronged assassination plot. No arrests have been made, and no group has claimed responsibility, leaving investigators scrambling for leads.

Osun State Police Command, led by CP Mohammed Yusuf, has swung into action, demanding concrete proof from Omoyele to bolster the probe.

 The incident was formally reported to the Ota-Efun Police Division, with joint teams from Amotekun, police, and other agencies combing the area. "We are treating this with the utmost urgency," a police spokesperson noted, urging the public to share tips on suspicious activities. Yet, the command's initial skepticism—asking the victim for "proof"—has drawn flak from rights groups, who decry it as a bureaucratic hurdle in a nation where insecurity claims lives daily.

Amotekun, the regional security outfit launched in 2020 by Southwest governors to combat herder-farmer clashes, banditry, and cultism, now finds itself under fire—literally. Osun's chapter, under Omoyele's watch, has notched wins against kidnappers and armed robbers, but this attack underscores the perils faced by its operatives. "This is not just an assault on one man; it's a strike at the heart of our localized security framework," a senior security analyst told reporters, warning of a ripple effect on morale. In recent months, similar hits on Amotekun personnel in neighboring states have spiked, amid broader national woes like the 2025 surge in cult-related violence in Osun's urban centers.

The timing couldn't be more ominous. Osogbo, a cultural hub famed for its Osun-Osogbo Grove UNESCO site, has grappled with rising kidnappings and robberies, straining Amotekun's 2,000-strong force. Economists link it to youth unemployment hovering at 35% in the state, fueling recruitment into criminal syndicates. "These gunmen aren't ghosts; they're locals or infiltrators exploiting gaps in intelligence sharing," the analyst added. Civil society outfits like the Osun Civil Society Coalition have demanded a high-level inquiry, better welfare for security personnel, and tech upgrades like body cams and drones.

As dawn broke on Tuesday, Amotekun vowed retribution: "

We will hunt these cowards and ensure the safety of all our members," a corps spokesperson declared. The incident has flooded social media, with hashtags like #SaveAmotekun trending and influencers amplifying calls for federal intervention. Governor Ademola Adeleke, yet to comment publicly, faces mounting pressure to bolster protections for his security chief.

This Osogbo ambush isn't isolated—it's a symptom of Nigeria's fraying security tapestry, where enforcers become targets. From Boko Haram in the North to unknown gunmen in the South, the cycle of violence demands bold reforms: enhanced funding, inter-agency synergy, and community policing. For Omoyele, a survivor who rose from community vigilance roots to command, this brush with death is a wake-up call. Will it galvanize change, or deepen the shadows over Osun's streets?

What steps should Southwest states take to shield their security heroes?

News Source; SaharaReporters, Punchnewspapers