The Osun State Police Command has declared five suspected political thugs wanted as part of efforts to curb violence ahead of the 2026 governorship election in the state.

In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, the command identified the suspects as Dauda Olamilekan, popularly known as Emir, Taoreed, also known as Small Rugged, Adetunji Kamoru Olatunde, Saka Afees, alias Terror, and Adeyemi Saheed.

According to the police, the suspects were identified through intelligence-led investigations as key figures behind recent incidents of political violence, including killings, assaults and other criminal activities across the state.

“After conducting in-depth intelligence-led investigation, the command identified these arrowheads who are behind the increasing spate of the political violence and thuggery activities,” the statement said.

The command urged members of the public to provide information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects, adding that efforts were ongoing to apprehend them.

The declaration comes amid heightened political tension in Osun State, where several people have reportedly been killed in separate incidents since June, including Olapade Ezekiel in Ilobu, Comrade Abdullateef Olamilekan, Kazeem Akande in Osogbo, Ajayi Aderogba in Esa-Oke and Eluyera in Ikire.

Meanwhile, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has rejected the Osun State Government’s suspension of its activities, insisting that Governor Ademola Adeleke lacks the constitutional authority to halt the union’s operations.

The union also inaugurated a seven-member caretaker committee to oversee its affairs in Osun pending the resolution of the leadership crisis in the state chapter.

The committee, chaired by Kazeem Oyewale, popularly known as Asiri Eniba, was inaugurated at the union’s national headquarters in Abuja.

The development follows the state government’s directive suspending NURTW activities in motor parks, halting the collection of levies and ordering security agencies to arrest anyone parading as a union official after violent clashes between rival factions.

Representing NURTW National President, Musiliu Akinsanya (MC Oluomo), the union’s Deputy National President, Aliyu Ore, maintained that no state government has the legal power to suspend the activities of the union.

“No state governor has the power to suspend the activities of the union because we are not under any state government. There is an Act that established the NURTW,” Ore said.

He explained that the caretaker committee was constituted to provide leadership for the union, particularly ahead of the governorship election, noting that the NURTW has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the transportation of election materials.

In his acceptance speech, Oyewale pledged to administer the union in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the NURTW constitution until the leadership dispute is resolved.