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Dismissed Amotekun Killer Operative To Face Prosecution

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The Oyo State Security Network Agency known as Operation Amotekun has unveiled the identity of its member, Kazeem Afolabi, who allegedly fired the shot that killed a commercial motorcyclist, Tosin Thomas, in Ibadan on Wednesday night.

The Commandant of Amotekun, Col Olayinka Olayanju (retd.), said in a statement on Thursday by the media officer of the agency, Mrs Ayolola Adedoja, that Afolabi acted outside the guideline of the security outfit and had been dismissed and handed over to the police for prosecution.

The commandant said the agency regretted the loss of Thomas’s life, saying the leadership was already in touch with the family.

Explaining how the incident happened, the commandant said the team leader received a call that there was an armed robbery at Mokola and seven members of the agency proceeded to the place.

He stated that on getting there, the leader of the Amotekun observed that although the crowd had gathered, there was no threat to anybody’s life there and he went to the manager of the filling station there.

“On arrival at the scene of the alleged crime, it turned out that it was not an armed robbery operation, though a crowd had gathered.

“The team leader, sensing no immediate danger to anyone at the scene immediately proceeded to speak with the station manager. While he was with the manager, he heard a gunshot.

“As it turned out, one of his team members, by the name Afolabi Kazeem, who felt sufficiently threatened by the crowd, which included some hoodlums armed with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons, opened fire to supposedly scare away the crowd. Unfortunately, his shot hit one Mr Tosin Thomas, 23, who was subsequently confirmed dead.

“The corps has found that Afolabi Kazeem with ammunition number AM031849 acted outside the Amotekun Corps’ Protocols.

“For this reason, he has been summarily dismissed from the corps and handed over to the police for prosecution. Also, his team leader, George Idowu, is being thoroughly investigated and will face all necessary sanctions.”