Five arrested in Osun after 14‑year‑old boy shot dead

Incident details The shooting took place on 21 June 2026 at about 3:30 p.m. in a palm‑wine shop on Council Road, near the Irepodun Local Government Secretariat in Ilobu. A group of people arrived in a Sienna bus and began firing sporadically. Olapade Ezekiel, 14, was at the shop with his father and other customers when he was struck by a bullet and later died. Another person, Matthew John, known as Mofoto, also suffered a gunshot wound.

Investigation and arrests The boy’s father, Olugbenga Olapade, reported the incident to the Ilobu Police Division around 5 p.m. The Osun State Police Command launched an investigation immediately, tracking suspects who were said to have moved between locations to avoid capture. Five men were eventually arrested.

Suspects and evidence The arrested suspects are Saheed Kareem (32, alias Tanfiani), Ismail Yekeen (24, alias Asumo Ayan), Abass Afeez (32, alias SS Abass), Salako Taofeek (30, alias Fenuso) and Barrister Abdulrauf Ogunshola. During interrogation, all confessed to involvement. Police say Salako Taofeek admitted to firing the shot that killed the teenager. He also named a man called Alaagba as the alleged armourer and custodian of the firearm; Alaagba remains at large.

Current status Police are continuing their search for Alaagba and are carrying out further investigations into the incident. The investigation is being described as professional and impartial by the command.