The Osun State Police Command has arrested five suspects in reference to the murder of 14-year-old Olapade Ezekiel, who was shot lifeless throughout a taking pictures incident in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area of the state, on June 21, 2026.
The command disclosed this in a press launch issued on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Zungura.
Ojelabi mentioned investigations into the incident have been ongoing.
According to the assertion, “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 mentioned the deceased’s father, Olugbenga Olapade, of Ododo Compound, Ilobu, reported the incident on the Ilobu Police Division at about 5 p.m. on the identical day.
The assertion defined that the 14-year-old was on the palm-wine store along with his father and a few prospects when a bunch of individuals allegedly arrived in a Sienna bus and started taking pictures 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 mentioned.
The command acknowledged that its operatives launched an investigation instantly after the incident and subsequently intensified efforts to trace down the suspects, who have been allegedly shifting from one location to a different to evade arrest.
The five suspects arrested have been recognized as 32-year-old Saheed Kareem, also called Tanfiani; 24-year-old Ismail Yekeen, alias Asumo Ayan; 32-year-old Abass Afeez, popularly referred to as SS Abass; 30-year-old Salako Taofeek, alias Fenuso; and Barrister Abdulrauf Ogunshola.
According to the police, “the suspects confessed to collaborating within the crime throughout interrogation, whereas additional investigations reportedly recognized Salako Taofeek, also called Fenuso, as the one that allegedly fired the shot that killed the teenager.
“Fenuso recognized a person referred to as Alaagba, who’s at the moment at massive, because the alleged armourer and custodian of the firearm used in the course of 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 general public that the investigation could be performed professionally and impartially, with credible proof, forensic findings and different investigative procedures used to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and decide the person roles of these concerned.
DSP Ojelabi mentioned the investigation was ongoing because the police pursued additional leads within the case.
