Osun Community Clash: Amotekun Operative Killed in Altercation with Soldier

A tragic altercation in the Ijeda Ijesa community of Osun State has left an operative of the Amotekun Corps, identified as Samuel Tope, dead and another critically injured following a violent clash involving a soldier.

According to local accounts, the confrontation occurred after a soldier, Fiyinfoluwa Opejobi—an indigene of the community who recently returned for his marriage ceremony—was invited for questioning by the Amotekun Corps over a reported robbery incident.

A resident who requested anonymity said, “He honoured the invite on Friday. But on Saturday, after concluding his mini marriage ceremony, he told two of his friends that someone had made a false allegation against him. They went into town to look for the person and eventually found him near Ijesa Roundabout. They beat him to a state of coma and left the scene.”

In response, fellow Amotekun operatives reportedly began combing the community in search of those responsible. The search led them to a hotel along Ijebu Jesa Road where a confrontation ensued.

“The soldier and his friends were wearing military attire but not fully kitted. They were already waiting in front of the hotel when the Amotekun men arrived. A fight broke out, and during the clash, Tope Samuel was killed,” another witness said. “Opejobi was also injured in the head during the altercation.”

In a statement released by the Osun Amotekun Corps Commander, Mr. Adekunle Omoyele, the agency accused Opejobi of launching an unprovoked attack.

“The incident occurred around 5:45 p.m. when a soldier, identified as Opejobi Fiyinfoluwa, who was recently recruited into the Nigerian Army, launched an unprovoked assault on the Amotekun operative,” the statement said.

“Fiyinfoluwa, dressed in military camouflage, approached the Amotekun Station in Ijebu-Jesa with hostile intent. He allegedly declared that part of his reason for joining the army was to ‘deal decisively’ with Amotekun personnel. Shortly after, while Officer Tope was riding a motorcycle, the soldier and unidentified accomplices stopped him and launched a violent attack.

“The assailants reportedly struck Tope on the head with a blunt object, causing him to fall from the bike. The brutal assault reportedly lasted for about 20 minutes, with no intervention, leaving Tope in a pool of blood. After the attack, the soldier reportedly fled the scene on a commercial motorcycle.”

Omoyele confirmed that the matter was reported to the Divisional Police Headquarters in Ijebu-Jesa and the Military Barracks in Ede.

Speaking on the incident, Osun Police Command spokesperson Abiodun Ojelabi confirmed that an investigation had commenced.

“Based on the report they made, it seems the Amotekun personnel and the soldier had a misunderstanding before yesterday (Saturday). Yesterday, according to what they said, the soldier attacked the two Amotekun men. And in the process, he brought out his jackknife, which he used on both of them,” Ojelabi stated.

“The Amotekun officers sustained injuries, and in the process of taking them to the hospital, one of them gave up the ghost, while the other one is still receiving treatment. We are going on with our investigation.”

Efforts to get an official statement from the Nigerian Army were unsuccessful. When contacted, an officer identified as the Chief of Staff to the Commander at the Ede Barracks simply replied via text, “Kindly go to the barracks, Sir and confirm accordingly.”