Sharing his ordeal, Babatunde Oyetunji, a mechanic based in Osogbo, recounted a distressing incident where armed individuals raided his workshop situated at Ring Road, opposite NNPC mega station, Osogbo, and made off with vehicles and spare parts worth millions of Naira.
During a conversation with reporters on Friday, Oyetunji revealed that three vehicles, along with new automobile engines and gears belonging to his clients, were taken away.
Expressing bewilderment over the motives of the alleged raiders, whom he claimed were clad in Amotekun uniforms and armed with various weapons, Oyetunji highlighted that the incident unfolded shortly after he left for Ibadan for work at approximately 10:00 am on Monday, July 29, 2024.
In a plea for help, he called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and Osun State Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Umar Abba, to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
Oyetunji mentioned that the owners of the pilfered items were pressuring him for their recovery.
Describing the event, he stated, “On the 29th of July, 2024, around 10 am, while I was en route to Ibadan for work, I got a call from my workshop by one of my apprentices who alerted me about roughly 20 armed individuals present in my workshop, with one insisting on speaking to me.”
“They made off with car engines and vehicle gears including those of a Toyota Sienna, a Toyota Camry, a Hilux engine, rims, and parts of a 2010 Highlander Jeep, in addition to three vehicles. This operation lasted from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.”
After returning from Ibadan and gathering information from witnesses present during the incident, Oyetunji learned about the attire of the raiders, some wearing Amotekun uniforms and others sporting reflective jackets bearing the Osun government logo.
Refuting any prior involvement in illegal activities, Oyetunji stated, “For over 30 years as a mechanic, I have maintained a clean record with no run-ins with law enforcement or individuals.”
“I have lodged a formal complaint at the police station and I am appealing to the people in Osun and across the nation to come to my aid, as the stolen engines and gears alone are valued at over N13 million, not to mention the three vehicles taken for repairs.”
In response, the Osun Amotekun spokesperson, Yusuf Idowu, released a statement refuting the accusations as slanderous and containing misinformation.
Idowu clarified that the Osun Amotekun Corps was not involved in the incident, labeling the news as entirely unfounded.
“We advise the public to dismiss the claims made by certain bloggers, as there was no Amotekun invasion of any workshop in Osogbo, as alleged.”
“This publication seems to be part of a deliberate effort to besmirch the reputation of Osun Amotekun and incite public disapproval. We call on those propagating this misinformation to refrain from spreading false news aimed at tarnishing the reputation and achievements of the Osun Amotekun Corps.”
“The Corps will not take such baseless accusations lightly, and caution those who falsely accuse the outfit without verifying facts, as a deterrent to others who seek to tarnish its reputation.”