The Osun State Police Command has arrested three men suspected of killing an Ikire resident, Seun Ajayi, in a violent attack at a barbing salon, recovering an axe, two double-edged knives and three mobile phones during the operation.
The arrests followed an investigation into the October 3, 2026, killing, which reportedly occurred in the Oja-Ale area of Ikire, Osun State, where armed assailants allegedly attacked Ajayi and another man while they were having their hair cut.
The police identified the suspects as Nurudeen Ademakinwa, 30; Agboluaje Usman, 23; and Awoniran Toheeb, 20. The command said the arrests were made through an intelligence-led operation as investigators pursued those allegedly responsible for the fatal attack.
The development was disclosed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, in a statement obtained in Osogbo on Thursday.
Beyond the killing, police also made allegations linking the principal suspect to threats against residents of Wasinmi community and a separate attack on police operatives in Ikire.
How the Fatal Attack Happened in Ikire
According to the police account, the incident occurred at approximately 6 p.m. on October 3, 2026, when Ajayi and a friend were at a barbing salon in the Oja-Ale area of Ikire.
The two men were reportedly going about their business when a group of armed men allegedly stormed the premises and attacked them with dangerous weapons. Ajayi was said to have suffered fatal injuries during the assault, while his companion managed to escape.
The surviving man subsequently reported the incident to the Divisional Police Headquarters in Ikire at about 7:30 p.m. the same day, providing information that prompted police action.
In the statement, Ojelabi said the complainant identified Ademakinwa, also known by the alias Igboya Aye-nuru, as the alleged leader of the group involved in the attack.
The police account stated that Ajayi was attacked with a machete and killed, while the other man escaped from the assailants.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are now the subject of a police investigation, with authorities working to establish the roles allegedly played by the three arrested men.
Intelligence-Led Operation Leads to Three Arrests
Two days after the killing, on October 5, police operatives apprehended Ademakinwa alongside Usman and Toheeb in an operation informed by intelligence gathered during the investigation.
The command said the operation also led to the recovery of items believed to be relevant to the case.
The recovered exhibits included one axe, two double-edged knives and mobile phones. The police statement did not provide further details about the ownership of the phones or whether forensic examinations had been conducted on the recovered weapons.
The arrests represent a significant development in the investigation into Ajayi’s death, although the allegations against the suspects remain subject to the legal process.
Police have not announced the conclusion of their investigation, and further details about the evidence connecting each suspect to the killing were not provided in the statement.
The command said the suspects would be charged in court once investigations had been completed.
Police Allege Suspect Threatened Wasinmi Residents
In addition to the allegations surrounding Ajayi’s killing, the police spokesperson accused Ademakinwa of sending voice notes containing threats directed at residents of Wasinmi community.
According to Ojelabi, the suspect allegedly warned people in the community to leave the town or face unspecified consequences.
The police did not disclose when the alleged voice notes were sent, how many residents received them or whether the messages had been independently examined as part of the investigation.
Nevertheless, the allegation has widened the scope of the case beyond the fatal attack at the barbing salon. Investigators are expected to examine the reported threats alongside the other information gathered against the suspect.
The police have not provided further details about the circumstances surrounding the alleged dispute with Wasinmi residents or whether additional complaints were formally lodged over the messages.
For now, the alleged threats form part of the claims made by the command as it continues its investigation.
Suspect Also Linked to August Attack on Police Operatives
Ojelabi further linked Ademakinwa to a separate incident involving police operatives attached to the Ikire Division on August 24, 2026.
According to the police spokesperson, the suspect was allegedly connected to an attack on the officers during which two passersby were killed.
The statement did not provide a detailed account of how the August incident unfolded, the identities of the deceased passersby or the precise nature of the suspect’s alleged involvement.
It also did not clarify whether the August case had previously resulted in arrests or whether investigators were pursuing additional suspects in connection with that incident.
The allegation, however, places the latest arrest within a broader set of serious claims being examined by the Osun State Police Command.
Authorities have yet to announce the outcome of investigations into the separate incident or provide details of any evidence that may support the alleged connection.
As with the October 3 killing, the claims against Ademakinwa will need to be established through the appropriate legal process.
Police Promise Court Action After Investigation
The Osun State Police Command has said that the three men arrested over Ajayi’s death will face prosecution after investigators conclude their work.
The next stage is expected to involve the examination of evidence collected during the operation, the assessment of statements obtained from relevant individuals and the establishment of the specific allegations against each suspect.
The recovery of weapons during the arrests is one element of the investigation, but the police have not publicly explained whether the items have been conclusively linked to the fatal attack.
The command has also not disclosed a court date or announced that formal charges have already been filed.
The suspects remain accused persons, and the allegations against them have not been established in court.
The case has drawn attention to the reported violence in Ikire, particularly because the police have associated the principal suspect with multiple incidents involving alleged threats and loss of life.
Further updates from the command are expected to clarify the progress of the investigation and any legal action taken against the suspects.
Separate Case: 45-Year-Old Man Arrested Over Alleged Defilement of Minor
In a separate development, the Osun State Police Command announced the arrest of a 45-year-old man, identified as Mukaila Adeyemo, over the alleged defilement of a minor in Ikire.
According to the police statement, Adeyemo is accused of sexually assaulting the girl on two separate occasions. The police alleged that the suspect was a friend of the victim’s grandmother, a relationship that reportedly placed him within the family’s wider circle of acquaintances.
The first alleged incident reportedly occurred in September 2026.
Police said Adeyemo allegedly persuaded the girl to visit his house under the pretext of asking her to help purchase some items. He is accused of raping her after she arrived.
The statement alleged that a second incident occurred on October 2, the girl’s birthday.
On that occasion, Adeyemo reportedly invited the minor to his workshop in the Ilupeju area of Ikire. The police alleged that he subsequently took her to a nearby bush, where the second assault occurred.
The allegations describe two separate incidents involving the same victim within a period of several weeks.
However, the police statement did not disclose further information about the circumstances of the girl’s disclosure, the evidence collected in the case or whether the suspect had been formally charged.
Authorities have also not provided additional details about the victim’s age, and her identity has not been disclosed.
The case is separate from the investigation into Ajayi’s killing, and the two matters should not be treated as connected based on the information released by the police.
Two Investigations Underway in Osun State
The arrests announced by the Osun State Police Command concern two distinct cases: the fatal attack on Seun Ajayi in Ikire and the alleged sexual assault of a minor by Adeyemo.
In the first case, three men have been arrested, and police say an axe, two double-edged knives and mobile phones were recovered during the operation. Investigators are also examining allegations of threats against Wasinmi residents and a possible connection between the principal suspect and an earlier attack in which two passersby died.
In the second case, a 45-year-old man is accused of sexually assaulting a minor on two occasions, with the alleged incidents taking place in September and on October 2.
The police have indicated that investigations will continue, with prosecution planned in the killing case once inquiries are complete. Further information about charges and court proceedings in either case had not been provided in the statement.
For both investigations, the next steps will depend on the evidence gathered by the authorities and the legal proceedings that follow. Until the allegations are tested in court, the suspects are presumed innocent under the law.
