Chaos in Osun: Five Amotekun Operatives Injured in Violent Attack on Command Centre

At least five personnel of the Osun State Amotekun Corps sustained varying degrees of injuries following a coordinated attack on their command centre over the past weekend. The incident, which unfolded in Awo, Egbedore Local Government Area, has triggered widespread concern about rising threats to regional security outfits across Nigeria’s southwest.

The corps’ spokesperson, Yusuf Idowu, made the announcement in an official statement released on Monday, describing the attack as both violent and unprecedented. According to him, the crisis stemmed from a request by the Oniwoye of Iwoye community, who sought the corps’ intervention in an alleged illegal burial conducted on sacred ancestral land.

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Amotekun Force Under Siege as Gang Launches Coordinated Assault

Trouble began when four Amotekun operatives were deployed to the community to investigate the complaint. Upon their arrival, the burial had already taken place, but the team was confronted by an unexpected danger. According to Idowu, a wanted fugitive, Ismaila Aluko, who had long evaded law enforcement capture, emerged from hiding with a gang of armed accomplices.

Without provocation, the assailants launched a violent assault on the operatives, forcing them to retreat strategically to the Amotekun command headquarters in Awo to avoid escalating the confrontation.

However, what followed next shocked even the most seasoned officers. “In a shocking turn of events, the hoodlums regrouped and staged a second attack on the Amotekun office in Awo,” Idowu revealed. The brazen assault took place in broad daylight and in the presence of law enforcement personnel, including officers of the Nigeria Police Force and a representative of the Department of State Services (DSS), who were reportedly on site to mediate and investigate.

A Violent Encounter Amidst Witnesses and Officials

According to the corps, not only were the attackers undeterred by the presence of security forces and family members of the suspects, but they also attempted to forcibly disarm the Amotekun officers. The statement described how the gang inflicted severe injuries on the operatives, prompting immediate medical evacuation.

“One personnel was seriously injured while four others sustained minor injuries,” Idowu stated. The operatives were rushed to a nearby medical facility, where emergency care was administered.

Security experts have pointed out that the audacity of the assault raises alarming questions about the safety of regional security institutions and the influence of criminal networks within local communities. The fact that the attack happened in the presence of national security operatives has only deepened the concerns.

Swift Response Promised as Amotekun Vows Justice

Describing the assault as a “direct threat to the security and peace of our communities,” the Osun Amotekun Corps has pledged to work in collaboration with other security agencies to ensure that all those involved in the attack are identified, arrested, and prosecuted.

“The Osun Amotekun Corps is currently working with relevant security agencies to ensure the swift arrest and prosecution of all individuals involved in this heinous act,” the statement continued.

The corps also reaffirmed its mission to protect the lives and property of citizens, promising that such acts of violence would not deter their operational resolve. “We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the protection of lives, property, and community peace,” Idowu emphasized.

This incident underscores a growing trend of hostility against Amotekun, the regional security outfit established to curb rising insecurity in the Southwest. Though the corps has received acclaim for community-level interventions against banditry, kidnapping, and other crimes, it continues to face operational challenges, including resource constraints and growing hostility from criminal groups.

Security analysts warn that unless the government strengthens the legal and operational backing for such regional forces, similar attacks could become more frequent and deadly. Calls are mounting for improved training, equipment, and intelligence-sharing between Amotekun and federal agencies to prevent further breakdowns in community security.

As of now, Osun residents await the outcome of investigations and arrests, with many hoping that swift justice will send a strong message to those who dare to challenge the rule of law.