One year after two brothers were killed during an alleged security operation in Akinlalu, Ife North Local Government Area of Osun State, their mother, Mrs Alaba Oyebamiji, is still waiting for their remains to be released for burial.
Oyebamiji said her sons, Ismaila and Sefiu, were among four people killed in the incident on September 30, 2025. She appealed to Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to intervene and ensure the release of the bodies.
The other victims were identified as Abiola Olutayo and another Sefiu Oyebamiji.
The four were allegedly killed after operatives of the Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun, entered the community following an incident whose circumstances have continued to concern residents.
A year later, the remains of the victims are reportedly yet to be released, preventing their families from conducting burial rites and finding closure.
Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, Oyebamiji said the continued withholding of her sons’ remains had deepened her pain and made it difficult for her to return to normal life.
“My heart is still heavy over the killing of my two sons. I am sad and heartbroken, but I have been consoled by the word of God. I would have had peace of mind and been able to associate freely with people if their remains had been released to me for proper burial.
“I am pleading with the appropriate authorities to act on this as soon as possible. For the past one year, I have been living a miserable life. I have made several moves towards securing the release of their bodies, but all to no avail.
“One of my sons, Ismail, was killed while his wife was pregnant. His wife and the baby are now in my custody. For some time now, I have not been able to go out because people make jest of me.”
The grieving mother said the family had made repeated efforts to resolve the matter but remained uncertain about when the remains would be released.
She urged the federal and state governments to consider the families’ appeals and allow them to bury their loved ones.
The traditional ruler of Akinlalu, Oba Israel Aborisade, also said community leaders had repeatedly approached the authorities over the release of the bodies but had not received a definite timeline.
“We have made several moves on this matter. We have met with the governor and the police over the release of the bodies, but they kept telling us to exercise patience without giving us a particular time.
“The parents of the victims have been on my neck. I have also spoken with some people privately on the matter.
“The police are saying they are not in charge of the matter. The families have told the government that they are not pursuing the case in court. Therefore, the government should look into this direction by making sure the decision of the families is respected.”
Similarly, the community youth leader, Musibau Adeboye, said the priority had shifted from compensation to securing the release of the victims’ remains.
“Government has done its best for the victims by compensating the families. But our demand now is for the release of the victims’ remains,” Adeboye told Saturday PUNCH on Thursday.
“The federal and state governments are playing politics with the matter. The parents of the victims are seeing us as if we are not serious with the case. We want the government to intervene by releasing the bodies so that we can lay them to rest.
The continued withholding of the remains has become another source of frustration in Akinlalu, with affected families and community leaders demanding an explanation from the authorities over why the bodies have not been released a year after the deaths.
As the first anniversary of the incident passes, the families are seeking answers about the deaths of their loved ones and, most importantly, the opportunity to perform their final rites and bury them according to their wishes.
