A 34-year-old factional leader of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Tolulope Alo, also known as ‘Asamo’, has been arraigned alongside 10 others before a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Akure, Ondo State, for allegedly attempting to assassinate a traditional ruler, Oba Adeniyi Adinlewa, the Obaloogun of Igoba land.
The suspects were brought to court on Tuesday, facing an eight-count charge that includes criminal conspiracy, attempted murder, unlawful possession of firearms, malicious damage, and public disturbance.
Others arraigned alongside Alo are: Ayodele Saka (34), Seun Bankole (42), Kolawole Kazeem (35), Bankole Tobi (25), Sunday Amigun (32), Adedayo Ogidan (43), Olaoluwa Kayode (21), Seriki Lateef (35), and Ezekiel Vincent (26).
According to the police prosecutor, Inspector Sulaiman Adebayo, the accused persons stormed the Aleo and Imolumo communities in Igoba, within the Akure Magisterial District, between October 1 and 2, 2025, armed with guns, knives, cutlasses, charms, and other dangerous weapons.
Adebayo told the court that the suspects had allegedly targeted Oba Adinlewa but the monarch narrowly escaped. Residents of Igoba community were reportedly thrown into panic during the invasion, which led to widespread damage and fear.
The suspects were allegedly caught with the following items:
Two cut-to-size barrel guns
Three live cartridges
Two expended cartridges
Two cutlasses
Five knives
One bulletproof vest
The prosecutor also said the gang destroyed a mobile phone worth ₦80,000 and damaged tomato crops worth ₦5,000 belonging to a woman identified as Mrs. Arowolo Joy.
The offences, Adebayo said, are in violation of Sections 516, 320, 332, 251, 42, and 71 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006, and Section 5 of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. 174, Vol. 4, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The court, presided over by Magistrate Damilola Sekoni, ordered that the suspects be remanded in police custody for one day to allow their legal counsel time to file a counter-affidavit in response to the charges.
After the one-day police custody, the court directed that the suspects be transferred to the Olokuta Correctional Centre pending further hearing.
The case was adjourned to October 10, 2025, for the hearing of the remand application.
The alleged assassination plot has sent shockwaves through the Igoba community and renewed concerns about the activities of factional groups within the OPC, a Yoruba socio-cultural organisation originally formed to protect and promote Yoruba interests.
Security agencies in Ondo State have since increased surveillance in the affected areas, while local leaders have called for calm and a peaceful resolution of disputes through legal and traditional channels.
