Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a murder suspect, Rabiu Yusuf, who allegedly killed a man identified simply as Segun in 2024 during a communal clash over the protracted boundary dispute between Oyo and Osun states, and buried his body in a shallow grave in the Iyana-Offa area along the Oyo-Osun boundary near Iwo. The arrest, which occurred nearly two years after the victim went missing, followed a fresh shooting incident involving the same suspect in the troubled border community. A second suspect, Tunde Adeyinka, was also arrested for allegedly supplying the ammunition used in the killing, while three other members of the gang remain at large.
The breakthrough came after operatives of the Oyo State Police Command arrested Rabiu Yusuf over a fresh shooting in the same community, where he had allegedly shot a man whom he accused of attacking him during a land dispute. Yusuf was taken into custody, and further interrogation by the command's Monitoring Unit led to his alleged confession to the earlier murder. According to the police, Yusuf admitted to being part of a four-man gang that carried out the killing, and he revealed the location where the victim's body had been concealed in a shallow grave, frustrating months of searches by security agencies and family members.
Speaking to journalists at the command headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, on Wednesday, 8 July 2026, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, detailed the developments. "An individual identified as Segun was killed in 2024 by this suspect and three others who are still at large. They shot him, concealed his body and buried him in a shallow grave," Mr Olayinka said. The police spokesperson explained that security agencies had searched extensively for the victim after the killing. "At that time, the Commissioner of Police, together with the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, visited the scene, but all efforts to locate the body of the deceased proved abortive, until recently when this same suspect shot at a man whom he alleged to have attacked him in the same community, bothering on land, and he was arrested," he added.
The command later secured a court order to exhume the remains of the deceased after the suspect's confession. "The body was properly exhumed and deposited in the mortuary. The family has also identified it as that of their son whom they had been searching for for years," Mr Olayinka stated. The killing is linked to the long-running boundary disputes between communities in Oyo and Osun states, where violent clashes have erupted over land ownership and territorial claims. The victim, Segun, was shot dead during renewed violence between communities around Iyana-Offa, Iyanagbo, and Oke-Oba Parapo, located along the Oyo-Osun boundary near Iwo, in 2024.
Speaking to journalists while in police custody, the suspect, Rabiu Yusuf, admitted to shooting the deceased but claimed the killing was a result of recurring attacks arising from the communal conflict. According to him, residents of Iyana-Offa frequently attacked his community at Oke-Oba Parapo. "The people from Offa used to come and attack us every time," he said. "I was sleeping that day when they came. About seven of them stayed at the entrance of our village while two entered on motorcycles." He alleged that one of the attackers recognised him and opened fire. "He kept shouting, 'that is him, that is him,' and shot me in the chest. I survived the attack. Later, they came again and that was why I shot him."
The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Olugbenga Abimbola, said the command is working closely with relevant security agencies and government stakeholders to curb communal violence and ensure lasting peace in affected communities. He commended the operatives for their professionalism and urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to the police.
The discovery of the victim's body nearly two years after his disappearance has brought a measure of closure to the family, who had been searching for their son for years. The case has also highlighted the devastating impact of the protracted boundary dispute between Oyo and Osun states, which has claimed lives, displaced communities, and fueled violence along the border corridor. The Oyo State Government and the Osun State Government have previously met to resolve the standing boundary disputes, and the National Boundary Commission has been urged to expedite action in resolving the long-standing Ogburo land boundary dispute between the two states.
The arrest of Rabiu Yusuf and Tunde Adeyinka, and the exhumation of Segun's remains, represent a significant step towards justice for the victim and his family. However, with three other suspects still at large, the police have vowed to intensify efforts to apprehend them and bring all those responsible to justice. As investigations continue, the Oyo State Police Command has reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property and ensuring that the rule of law prevails in the state. The case serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of unresolved communal conflicts and the importance of strengthening security and justice mechanisms in border communities.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments