A man who went missing after violence tied to the long-standing boundary fight between Oyo and Osun states has been found buried in a shallow grave. This discovery happened nearly two years after he was reportedly killed.
The Oyo State Police Command made the find after they arrested a suspected gunman named Rabiu Yusuf. He was caught over a new shooting in the same troubled border area. His arrest led to a confession that helped solve the mystery of the missing man.
The victim, known only as Segun, was shot dead in 2024 during a new round of violence between communities near Iyana-Offa, Iyanagbo, and Oke-Oba Parapo. These places are located along the Oyo-Osun boundary close to Iwo.
The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Ayanlade Olayinka, shared details in an interview with reporters on Wednesday. He said Segun’s body was hidden in a shallow grave, which made it hard for both security agencies and family members to find him for months.
The police also arrested a second suspect who is accused of providing the ammunition used in the killing. Three other suspects are still on the run.
Mr Olayinka explained that the investigation reopened after Mr Yusuf was arrested for another shooting linked to a different communal clash. Police from the command's Monitoring Unit questioned the suspect. He reportedly confessed to taking part in Segun’s killing and pointed out where the body was buried.
“An individual named Segun was killed in 2024 by this suspect and three others who are still at large. They shot him, hid his body, and buried him in a shallow grave,” Mr Olayinka said.
He also mentioned that security agencies had searched widely for the victim after the killing. “At that time, the Commissioner of Police, along with the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, visited the scene. But all efforts to find the deceased’s body were unsuccessful until recently when this same suspect shot at a man whom he claimed attacked him over land in the same community, leading to his arrest,” he added.
The police later got a court order to dig up the remains of the deceased after the suspect confessed. “The body was properly exhumed and taken to the mortuary. The family has also confirmed it is their son whom they have been searching for over the years,” the police spokesman said.
Mr Olayinka added another suspect was caught for allegedly supplying the ammunition used in the attack. While speaking to reporters in police custody, Mr Yusuf admitted to shooting Segun but said it happened due to ongoing attacks from the communal conflict. He claimed people from Iyana-Offa often 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 claimed one of the attackers recognized him and started shooting. “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.”
This killing is tied to the long-running boundary disputes between communities in Oyo and Osun states. Disagreements over land ownership have led to violent clashes, property destruction, and loss of lives.
The crisis has seen repeated interventions from both state governments and security agencies. In the past, high-ranking government officials, including the Oyo deputy governor and senior police leaders, visited the affected communities to restore peace.
Despite these efforts, tensions have continued, with sporadic attacks still threatening residents living along the disputed boundary. The police said investigations are ongoing to catch the three remaining suspects involved in the killing and to understand the full circumstances of the incident.
Drop your comment
No comments yet — be the first to drop the gist 👇