Politics

Osun in Crisis: APC Accuses Adeleke’s Government of Using Amotekun to Arrest its Members in Underground Cells

Published by Tope Fakinlede on June 4th, 2025.

Osun in Crisis: APC Accuses Adeleke’s Government of Using Amotekun to Arrest its Members in Underground Cells

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly criticized the state’s Amotekun Corps, accusing it of acting as an enforcement tool for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under Governor Ademola Adeleke. The party claims the security outfit is being used to intimidate and persecute its members and supporters.

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During a press briefing held on Wednesday in Osogbo, the APC alleged that the Amotekun Corps plans to arraign several of its members from Itaapa in Atakumosa East Local Government Area before a magistrate court. This move, the party stated, appears to be in response to public outcry over recent arrests that have sparked controversy in the media.

Speaking at the briefing, Kola Olabisi, the APC’s Director of Media and Publicity, alleged that numerous APC supporters are being detained in secret cells at Amotekun’s headquarters along Ikirun Road, Osogbo. He stated that families of the detainees are unaware of their whereabouts or the conditions they are subjected to.

The party also raised concerns about an alleged detention facility in Bolorunduro Local Government Area, claiming it is used to routinely mistreat political opponents. The APC further alleged that recent Amotekun recruitments have included individuals with histories of violence and connections to criminal groups, suggesting the outfit is being used to arm PDP loyalists under the guise of community policing.

According to the APC, local PDP leaders were allegedly instructed to submit names of known political enforcers for possible recruitment into Amotekun, further fueling fears of politically motivated attacks on opposition members.

Among the issues listed by the APC were claims of Amotekun’s overreach, including illegal arrests, extortion of traders and miners, interference in civil matters like marriage disputes, and undermining the police and other law enforcement agencies.

Specifically, the party reported that Amotekun had arrested and detained at least ten traditional leaders from Itaapa, accusing them of organizing local security without state authorization. These community leaders, initially granted bail, were reportedly rearrested by Amotekun Commander Adekunle Omoyele, a retired police officer with a controversial past, including being cited for human rights violations in a government report on police brutality.

The community of Itaapa had reportedly set up a vigilante team in agreement with the local Divisional Police Officer to combat a recent surge in cult-related violence. The APC said this initiative had been effective, leading to the arrest and prosecution of a known cultist, Demola Abbey (aka “Pressy”). However, the party now alleges that cultists recently recruited into Amotekun—specifically individuals named Ajayi Ibukun, Femi Osobu, and Amure Sunday, allegedly known to police—are now leading crackdowns against the opposition.

In light of these developments, the APC has called on the Inspector-General of Police and the National Security Adviser to urgently investigate the operations of the Osun Amotekun Corps and protect residents from what it describes as politically motivated oppression.