Police arrest five suspects over murder of Osun teenager

The Osun State Police Command has arrested five suspects in connection with the murder of 14-year-old Olapade Ezekiel, who was shot dead during a shooting incident in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area of the state, on June 21, 2026.

The command disclosed this in a press release issued on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Zungura.

Ojelabi said investigations into the incident were ongoing.

According to the statement, “the incident occurred at about 3:30 p.m. at a palm-wine shop along Council Road, near the Irepodun Local Government Secretariat in Ilobu.”

The police said the deceased’s father, Olugbenga Olapade, of Ododo Compound, Ilobu, reported the incident at the Ilobu Police Division at about 5 p.m. on the same day.

The statement explained that the 14-year-old was at the palm-wine shop with his father and some customers when a group of people allegedly arrived in a Sienna bus and began shooting sporadically.

“As a result of the shooting, Olapade Ezekiel, male, 14 years old, sustained a gunshot injury and subsequently died, while another person identified as Matthew John, popularly known as Mofoto, sustained a gunshot injury,” the police said.

The command stated that its operatives launched an investigation immediately after the incident and subsequently intensified efforts to track down the suspects, who were allegedly moving from one location to another to evade arrest.

The five suspects arrested were identified as 32-year-old Saheed Kareem, also known as Tanfiani; 24-year-old Ismail Yekeen, alias Asumo Ayan; 32-year-old Abass Afeez, popularly known as SS Abass; 30-year-old Salako Taofeek, alias Fenuso; and Barrister Abdulrauf Ogunshola.

According to the police, “the suspects confessed to participating in the crime during interrogation, while further investigations reportedly identified Salako Taofeek, also known as Fenuso, as the person who allegedly fired the shot that killed the teenager.

“Fenuso identified a man known as Alaagba, who is currently at large, as the alleged armourer and custodian of the firearm used during the operation.

“The police are on his trail for possible arrest and prosecution. Efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect.”

The command assured members of the public that the investigation would be conducted professionally and impartially, with credible evidence, forensic findings and other investigative procedures used to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine the individual roles of those involved.

DSP Ojelabi said the investigation was ongoing as the police pursued further leads in the case.