Arrests Made in Osun Villagers' Killings, Says Monarch

The Olojudo of Ido-Ayegunle, Oba Timileyin Ajayi, confirmed the detention of four individuals believed to be involved in the tragic deaths of villagers in Osun State. This announcement was made in a statement released on Monday, February 9, 2026.

Gunmen invaded the community on June 19, 2025, armed with various weapons, resulting in the deaths of four residents and injuring several others.

In his statement, the monarch indicated that the recent arrests signify a significant advancement towards achieving justice for the victims. "I want the world to know that we have arrested the individuals responsible for the killings," he stated.

According to Ajayi, an Osun State Magistrate Court in Osogbo has ordered the four suspects to be held at the Ilesha Correctional Centre for a duration of 30 days while investigations remain active.

He explained that the suspects’ remand followed a police request, which informed the court that comprehensive inquiries into the case are still underway. The order was issued by Magistrate Adekanmi Adeyeba, pending further legal guidance from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

In an interview with Punch, Ajayi recounted that the violence erupted on June 15, 2025, when the suspects and several accomplices, who are still at large, executed vicious attacks that led to numerous fatalities in Ido-Ayegunle.

The deceased were identified as Engineer Agboola Sunday, Kingsley Nwagbana, Rasak Adegoke, and Olayinka Sodiq. Ajayi mentioned that the aggressors wielded firearms, machetes, and knives, with reports of some victims being mutilated and others burned alive during the raid.

The traditional leader characterized Ido-Ayegunle as a community suffering from the loss of innocent lives, particularly those of fathers and youths who should have been safeguarded rather than killed.

“Innocent lives have been lost in Ido-Ayegunle—our fathers, youths, and individuals deserving of protection instead of death. These killings have instilled fear and sorrow in our land,” he expressed.

Ajayi emphasized that the community is not pursuing vengeance but rather justice through meticulous investigation and accountability to ensure the safety of its residents.

"We are not seeking revenge. We are asking for justice: thorough investigation, accountability for the culprits, and assurance that our community can exist peacefully," he affirmed.

He urged security forces, government officials, and stakeholders locally and internationally to help restore lasting peace, insisting that rural communities deserve protection too.

“The lives of rural communities matter. The lives of the people of Ido- Ayegunle matter. Let justice honor the dead, protect the living, and restore peace to our land,” he stated.

Ajayi further accused the neighboring Esa-Oke community of aggression, asserting that the people of Ido-Ayegunle have the right to their ancestral land.

“I do not want the Esa-Oke people to continue to harm us. We possess every right to reside on our ancestral land. We have evidence supporting our claim to this territory,” he declared.

The monarch reassured his constituents that peace would eventually return, expressing determination to relentlessly pursue justice.

“I want to assure my people that, by God's grace, peace will be reinstated. Life will return to normal. Our pursuit for justice remains steadfast, and we will not relent until justice is fulfilled,” he added.

In his appeal to the media and the international community, Ajayi described the victims as ordinary, peaceful individuals who were killed while trying to make a living.

“All the victims were innocent. Some were natives of Ayegunle, while others had come to work. They were brutally murdered,” he lamented.

He pointed out that the victims included a plumber, a tiler, an investor, and a bricklayer, specifying that one of them was a 65-year-old investor who had planned to start a poultry farm in the community.

“One of the deceased was a bricklayer engaged on a community project for me. As a new king, I initiated several projects for my people, and they took the life of the worker involved in those efforts. Most of those murdered were simply there to work,” Ajayi explained.

He mentioned that the case has been adjourned to February 22, 2026, awaiting legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.