Olalekan Oyeyemi, popularly known as Emir Ajagungbade, an associate of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and chieftain of the Accord Party, has been shot dead in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Ajagungbade was reportedly killed on Sunday, September 13, during a clash linked to a dispute over the leadership and control of motor parks in the ancient city.

Reports said the incident occurred around the Mayfair area of Ile-Ife, with gunshots causing panic among residents, traders and transport workers. The exact circumstances surrounding the shooting, including the identities of those responsible, remained under investigation as of Monday.

The Osun State Police Command confirmed that it had commenced an investigation into the incident after receiving information about the shooting. Police operatives were deployed to the affected area as authorities moved to restore calm.

Governor Adeleke subsequently directed the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Zungura, to ensure the immediate arrest of all persons found to be involved in the killing. The governor also called for calm and directed security agencies to restore normalcy in motor parks and garages across the state.

Adeleke further announced plans to reintroduce a Park Management System in Osun State, saying an executive order would be issued to establish a new framework for managing parks and garages. Rival groups involved in the leadership dispute were also directed to vacate the affected motor parks.

The killing has brought renewed attention to the longstanding disputes surrounding the management of motor parks in parts of Osun State, particularly where competing groups have struggled over leadership and control.

Ajagungbade’s Political Background

Ajagungbade was a prominent figure within Osun’s political and transport circles and had been associated with Governor Adeleke’s political structure.

In January 2023, he was appointed by Adeleke to the state’s Transport Disciplinary Committee, a body connected with efforts to regulate activities within the transport sector. He was also identified in reports as a member of the governor’s transition committee.

His political career, however, was accompanied by controversy. In July 2022, the Osun State Police Command reportedly declared him wanted over allegations including murder, cultism and armed robbery. He was subsequently arrested in September 2023 and transferred to the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

In February 2024, he was arraigned before the Federal High Court in Osogbo over charges that included murder and terrorism. The charges were later amended, with reports also referring to allegations involving kidnapping and armed robbery. Ajagungbade pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

In April 2024, Justice Emmanuel Ayoola granted him bail of N50 million, with two sureties in like sum. The court’s ruling noted that the prosecution had not provided sufficient evidence to justify keeping him in custody at that stage. The case therefore remained a matter before the court rather than a conviction against him.

The earlier allegations generated political controversy in Osun, with opposition figures criticising the Adeleke administration over its relationship with Ajagungbade, while reports from the period also documented his legal defence and subsequent bail.

Police Begin Investigation

Following Sunday’s killing, the police have begun investigating what led to the confrontation and who was responsible for the shooting.

The police have also warned against actions that could trigger further violence or reprisal attacks, as tension reportedly spread beyond Ile-Ife following the incident.

For Governor Adeleke, the incident has also become a fresh test of the state’s efforts to maintain order within motor parks. His decision to order arrests, direct rival groups to leave the parks and move towards a new park management structure indicates an attempt to address the wider dispute rather than treat the killing as an isolated incident.

As investigations continue, attention will now turn to the police to establish the circumstances that led to Ajagungbade’s death, identify those responsible and determine whether the killing was directly connected to the reported motor-park leadership dispute.

The governor has promised action, while security agencies are expected to ensure that the incident does not escalate into further violence across Osun State.