By John Dike, Osogbo
The police in Osun Osun State are probing the circulation of a viral video allegedly showing the Senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, Francis Fadahunsi, making inflammatory remarks during a protest over the recent killings in Ilesa.
For this, Governor Ademola Adeleke has demanded the immediate arrest and investigation of the senator, describing the alleged comments as capable of threatening the peace of the state ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
Addressing an emergency press conference on Tuesday at the Government House, Osogbo, alongside his deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, and his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Governor Adeleke appealed for calm and assured residents that adequate security measures had been put in place.
The governor disclosed that he had spoken with the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Olatunji Disu, on the need to ensure the safety of lives and property before, during and after the August 15 governorship election.
“I have spoken with the Inspector-General of Police to ensure that the people of Osun are adequately protected before, during and after the election,” Adeleke said.
He expressed concern that a serving senator was allegedly making statements capable of inciting violence, stressing that such conduct should not be tolerated in a democratic society
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According to the governor, security agencies should investigate the viral video and take appropriate action in accordance with the law if the content is found to constitute incitement.
In the video circulating on social media, Senator Fadahunsi, speaking in Yoruba, was heard alleging attacks on members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) before reportedly declaring that any member of the Accord Party seen in Ilesa before the forthcoming governorship election would be killed.
The remarks have generated widespread reactions amid heightened political tension ahead of Saturday’s election.
The senator reportedly made the comments while leading APC leaders and supporters on a protest to the palace of the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adesuyi Haastrup, to register their grievances over what they described as the killing of APC supporters in Ijesaland.
The protest followed Monday night’s violent incident in the Imo area of Ilesa, where three persons were reportedly shot dead.
However, the Osun State Police Command maintained that the incident was a cult-related clash involving suspected members of the rival Aiye and Eiye confraternities and not a politically motivated attack.
In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abiodun Ojelabi, the command said the clash occurred at about 8:00 p.m. on Monday, resulting in the deaths of three persons identified as Idowu, Yinka and Eja.
According to the police, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the 2026 Osun Governorship Election, CP Samuel Erale Etaifo, immediately deployed operatives of the Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU) and other tactical teams to the area to restore normalcy, prevent reprisal attacks and apprehend those responsible.
The command disclosed that four expended cartridges and two Android mobile phones were recovered from the scene, while investigations had commenced to determine the circumstances surrounding the killings and identify all those involved.
Police added that patrols, surveillance and intelligence-led operations had been intensified in Ilesa and adjoining communities to forestall further violence.
The command warned cult groups, political supporters and other criminal elements against taking advantage of the situation to perpetrate violence, stressing that anyone found engaging in unlawful acts, including reprisal attacks or illegal possession of firearms, would be arrested and prosecuted.
Residents were urged to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information and report suspicious activities to the nearest security agency as investigations continue.
As political activities intensify ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, security agencies have reiterated their commitment to maintaining law and order and ensuring a peaceful electoral process across the state.
