Tension enveloped parts of Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Sunday, following the brutal killing of a former unit chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Kazeem Oyewole, by suspected hoodlums.
Oyewole, who once served as part-time chairman of the Aregbe Unit of the NURTW between 2018 and 2022, was reportedly attacked and killed at Elelede Junction in Osogbo on Sunday afternoon.
Eyewitnesses said the incident began when some hoodlums set up a base at Elelede Junction, allegedly collecting money from passersby under the pretext of raising funds for a carnival. A resident who witnessed the event said violence broke out after two men on a motorcycle arrived at the scene.
“While that was going on, a motorcycle carrying two people arrived the scene and those hoodlums forced the two passengers to disembark. They started fighting those passengers. I heard gunshots. They later identified one of the two persons that were attacked as Kazeem,” the witness narrated.
The resident added that the attackers later used heavy stones to smash Oyewole’s head, killing him instantly, while his companion managed to escape with injuries.
“Later, they brought big stones and smashed the head of a man identified as Kazeem. He died on the spot. The other person, however, escaped from the scene of the attack with open wound. After the incident, the hoodlums fled before police would arrive,” the source added.
A trader in the area, identified simply as Basira, said nearby businesses immediately shut down as panic spread.
“The person that was killed was identified as Kazeem Oyewole by some NURTW people that came after the incident. He was said to be the former part-time chairman of NURTW unit along Osogbo/Gbongan road in Aregbe Area,” she said.
By Sunday evening, tension had spread to major motor parks around Old Garage and Aregbe, as residents and commuters avoided the areas for fear of reprisal attacks. Hoodlums were also reportedly sighted loitering around the parks.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the killing and said police operatives had been deployed to the area.
“We are aware of the incident that happened at Orita Elelede (Osogbo), and we deployed our men to the place immediately information got to us, but unfortunately, one person was confirmed dead. He was identified as Kazeem. Other names unknown. Investigation has commenced,” Ojelabi stated.
He added that the command was intensifying patrols around motor parks to prevent further violence.
“We are still monitoring the situation. We are going to monitor the parks for now,” he said.
The killing of Oyewole came less than two months after another NURTW leader in Osun State, Adeboye Ademoroti, was shot dead by unknown assailants at Olomilagbala Area of Ilesa on November 27, 2025.
