By Charles Pemu 
The death toll following a reported shooting incident involving Osun Amotekun operatives in Akinlalu town, Osun State, last Tuesday has risen to four, after one of the critically injured victims succumbed to their injuries in the early hours of yesterday (Saturday).
Akinlalu residents claim Amotekun operatives invaded the community last Tuesday, resulting in the immediate death of three persons and critical injury to eight others. Community representative Mr. Babarinde Olamide stated the invasion occurred at noon over claims that a suspect had seized an operative’s locally-fabricated weapon.
According to Olamide, the operatives arrived in three vehicles and began shooting indiscriminately at residents, in addition to using cutlasses on those who attempted to flee towards them.
“In the process, three persons were killed on the spot and several others severely injured. Surprisingly, the operatives took the dead bodies away and those critically injured. We received that one of those injured has died at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo after surgery early on Saturday,” Olamide said.
Governor Vows Action
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has ordered an immediate investigation into the killings and dispatched a government delegation to the community.
In a statement released yesterday (Saturday) by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the Governor vowed to ensure justice: “I am a rule of law governor. This matter is being investigated and any infraction will be dealt with within the context of the law. I have ordered a Security Council meeting on this incident and others such as fears of spill over from Kwara banditry attacks.”
Governor Adeleke extended his condolences to the victims and urged the residents of Akinlalu to “keep calm as our government acts on the matter.”
APC Demands Transparency
In a related development, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state strongly condemned the Amotekun operatives for alleged extra-judicial killings and called on Governor Adeleke to ensure a transparent process in investigating and prosecuting those responsible for the deaths.