- –appeals to Tinubu
John Dike, Osogbo
Two persons were feared dead and several others injured in Osogbo on Tuesday as sporadic shootings rocked the Osun State capital.
The incident occured just as Governor Ademola Adeleke accused supporters of the state’s former Governor and Marine and Blue Economy minister Mr Gboyega Oyetola,together with APC governorship candidate in the coming election, Mr Bola Oyebamiji of sponsoring coordinated violence across the state.
He called on the National Security Adviser, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and other top security officials to urgently intervene and prevent a further breakdown of law and order.
Adeleke also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prevail on political actors in the state to embrace peace and ensure that democratic processes are not undermined by violence.
The incident, which sent residents scampering for safety, occurred amid growing political tension ahead of the approaching governorship election in the state.
Similar incidents where hoodlums suspected to be working for politicians were seen firing gunshots, reportedly started in Ile-Ife and later spread to Ede, Aisu, Owode and some parts of the Osogbo.
Eyewitness said armed hoodlums, suspected to be political thugs, moved through parts of the capital in a convoy of branded vehicles, allegedly opening fire at different locations, including Owode Junction and areas leading to Olaiya.
Residents said the gunshots created panic as traders hurriedly shut their shops while commuters abandoned their journeys in search of safety.
As of the time of filing this report, the exact number of casualties remained unclear.
However, hospital sources disclosed that several injured victims were rushed to the Accident and Emergency Unit of the State Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo, for urgent medical attention.
It was also gathered that some victims were receiving treatment at private hospitals across the city.
The shootings triggered widespread anxiety among residents, many of whom expressed concern over the growing wave of political violence in the state.
Meanwhile, Governor Ademola Adeleke has raised alarm over what he described as coordinated attacks allegedly carried out by supporters of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Oyebamiji, in different parts of Osun State.
Addressing a press conference at the Government House, Osogbo, the governor condemned the violence and warned that the state was gradually being pushed towards a dangerous path of instability.
According to Adeleke, reports reaching his office indicated that the attacks commenced in the early hours of Tuesday in the Sabo area of Ile-Ife, where armed men allegedly fired gunshots indiscriminately, causing panic among residents and disrupting commercial activities.
The governor stated that while authorities were assessing the situation in Ile-Ife, fresh reports emerged of similar incidents in Ede and Osogbo.
He alleged that the attackers operated in a convoy of about 15 vehicles branded with campaign materials of the APC governorship candidate.
According to the governor, eyewitnesses reported that the assailants first struck at Akoda before moving to Aisu Junction, where they allegedly descended from their vehicles and opened fire.
“The attackers continued their violent operations at Owode and later moved through strategic locations in Osogbo, including Olaiya Junction, Old Garage, Oke-Fia and areas around the Government House,” Adeleke stated.
The governor said preliminary reports suggested that several residents sustained injuries during the attacks, while fears persisted that one or two persons may have been killed.
Although security agencies had yet to officially confirm casualty figures, residents in affected communities were seen fleeing as gunshots echoed across major roads and commercial centres.
Adeleke further alleged that the attacks were coordinated by political thugs identified as Aleba and Asiri.
The governor also criticised the Osun State Police Command, accusing it of failing to take prompt action against those responsible.
“Worst still, the state police command has not raised a finger to stop the attacks or arrest the attackers,” he alleged.
Warning that the patience of Osun residents was being severely tested, Adeleke said repeated incidents of violence were threatening the peace and stability his administration had worked hard to sustain.
“Our people are running out of patience. This attack must stop. Enough is enough,” the governor declared.
He further accused the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and former governor of the state, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, alongside APC governorship candidate Bola Oyebamiji, of allegedly creating an atmosphere of political intimidation in the state.
“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the destabilising roles of Gboyega Oyetola and Bola Oyebamiji. The provocation is getting to an unbearable level.
For several months, I have consistently appealed to our supporters and residents to remain peaceful despite repeated acts of aggression,” Adeleke said.
The governor linked the latest violence to what he described as a disturbing trend of politically motivated attacks in the state, citing the recent killing of a youth leader of the Accord Party in Ikire and the shooting of the party’s chairman in Osogbo.
Adeleke’s words, “Election is about the people. Voters should be allowed to make their choices freely in a peaceful atmosphere without fear, intimidation or bloodshed.”
The governor stressed that democracy could only flourish in an environment where political actors respected the rule of law and citizens were free to exercise their constitutional rights without coercion.
As political activities intensify ahead of the governorship election, concerns continue to mount over the security situation in the state.
Civil society groups and concerned residents have called on security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the shootings and bring perpetrators to justice.
As of press time, neither the Osun State chapter of the APC nor the campaign organisation of Bola Oyebamiji had issued an official response to the allegations made by the governor.
The latest incident has once again brought the issue of political violence to the forefront in Osun State, with stakeholders urging restraint, dialogue and strict enforcement of electoral laws to safeguard peace ahead of the crucial poll.
The Governor who led top official of the government to visit the hospitalized victims at Osun State University Teaching Hospital assured the victims support and reportedly mandated the management to properly give adequate medicare care.
