Family of Ogun State Finance Director Killed in 2023 Robbery Demands Justice Two Years Later
Family of Ogun State Finance Director Killed in 2023 Robbery Demands Justice Two Years Later
Two years after suspected armed robbers fatally shot Taiwo Oyekanmi, a Finance Director with the Ogun State Government, on the Kuto Bridge in Abeokuta, his family is demanding justice. They insist that bringing the perpetrators to book will help heal their wounds and fill the void left by his death.
In a statement shared with Journalists on Thursday, Lanre Oyekanmi, the brother of the deceased, expressed ongoing fears, revealing that the suspects still roam freely without facing consequences. While acknowledging that some promises made by the government have been fulfilled—such as support for his children’s education and payment of owed emoluments—he emphasized that justice for his brother remains unfulfilled and crucial for the family’s closure.
“The government has fulfilled most promises, especially regarding our brother’s children’s education and his entitlements. We are grateful to the governor for that,” Lanre Oyekanmi said. “But the promise to arrest and prosecute those responsible for his death remains outstanding. We need closure. The governor assured us that no stone would be left unturned, but it seems the case has been abandoned since then. The family deserves answers.”
He called on Ogun State’s Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, to prioritize the case. Oyekanmi referenced the former police chief, Abiodun Alamutu—who retired last year—who admitted that his greatest regret was failing to resolve the case. “Now, with a new police commissioner, should we assume the case is closed because Alamutu has retired? The family deserves to know the truth. As long as the suspects are at large, no one is truly safe. It’s our family that bears the brunt, but who’s next?”
Ogunlowo responded to the appeal, stating that the case remains open and is actively under investigation. “The case has not been closed; it is ongoing,” he told our correspondent in a phone interview.
It was reported that Oyekanmi was attacked on November 30, 2023, while returning from a bank in a bullion van carrying N112.335 million. The robbers, who intercepted the vehicle on the Kuto flyover, used a sledgehammer to break into the van after pulling it over from their Toyota vehicle. During the attack, Oyekanmi was shot in the thigh, resulting in his death.
The then-Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, confirmed that the bullion van was unescorted by police at the time. He described the robbery and murder as premeditated, questioning how the heavily armed robbers knew Oyekanmi was headed for the bank. Alamutu revealed that the robbers were likely tipped off by an insider familiar with the transaction.
