One year after two brothers were killed in the controversial Akinlalu incident in Osun State, their mother, Mrs Alaba Oyebamiji, is still waiting for the remains of her sons to be released for burial.
Oyebamiji has appealed to Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu to intervene and end the prolonged delay.
Her sons, Ismaila and Sefiu, were among the people killed during the September 30, 2025 incident in Akinlalu, Ife North Local Government Area, involving operatives of the Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun.
The tragedy sparked outrage in the community, with residents accusing Amotekun operatives of invading the town and shooting residents. The security outfit, however, gave a different account, saying its men were involved in a gun battle with suspected hoodlums.
Police investigations followed the incident, while the remains of the victims were taken away by Amotekun operatives, according to the police account.
But one year later, the families are still demanding answers over the whereabouts and release of the bodies.
Oyebamiji said that the continued delay had deepened her pain and made it difficult for her family to move on.
She said one of her sons was killed while his wife was pregnant, leaving her to care for the widow and child.
The grieving mother said she had made several attempts to get the remains released but had yet to achieve any breakthrough.
She appealed to the authorities to allow the families to bury their loved ones and put an end to the uncertainty.
The traditional ruler of Akinlalu, Oba Israel Aborisade, also disclosed that community leaders had repeatedly approached both the governor and police over the matter.
According to him, the authorities had continued to ask the community to exercise patience without giving a definite date for the release of the remains.
The monarch said the victims’ families were not interested in prolonging the matter through litigation and urged the government to respect their wish and facilitate the release of the bodies.
Akinlalu youth leader, Musibau Adeboye, said the community’s major concern at this stage was no longer compensation but getting the victims’ remains back.
He urged the Federal Government and Osun State Government to intervene, saying the families simply wanted to perform the final burial rites for their loved ones.
The Akinlalu killings had earlier prompted Governor Adeleke to order an investigation, with the police taking over the probe. Adeleke had also pledged that anyone found responsible would face the law.
