By John Dike, Osogbo
Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State have condemned the alleged attack on the Personal Assistant to the Oriade Local Government Chairman, Hon. Olubunmi Ezekiel Obeisun, Mr. Kayode Damilola, and called for the arrest and prosecution of those found responsible.
The alleged incident, according to a report by the Publisher of EagleNewsOnline, Yakubu Lukman, occurred at about 7:17 p.m. on Saturday at the residence of Damilola’s friend, Mr. Abiodun Oluwasanmi, on Iloro Street, Ijebu-Ijesa.
In a video interview following the incident, Damilola alleged that he was at Oluwasanmi’s residence where they were playing Opón Àyò when a group of men allegedly arrived in a branded campaign vehicle belonging to the Accord Party House of Representatives candidate, Barrister Pelumi Jacob Olajengbesi.
Damilola alleged that Femi Ajifolokun, popularly known as AJIFO, whom he described as an associate of the Accord candidate, led about 10 men to the location.
According to him, AJIFO greeted him and he reciprocated the greeting before allegedly asking him to sing a campaign song he had used in support of the APC during the election period.
Damilola further alleged that the situation subsequently turned violent, accusing AJIFO, Tosin Oyebode, Tosin Omo Efon, Fado, Akin Arowobusoye and other members of the group of attacking him and his friend.
He claimed that while his friend managed to escape, the attackers allegedly turned their attention to him and assaulted him with weapons, including a cutlass and an axe.
Damilola also alleged that one of the attackers used a knife on his neck, leaving him with injuries and heavy bleeding.
He said the attackers allegedly believed he had died after seeing the blood, but that he eventually managed to escape when an opportunity presented itself.
According to him, the alleged attackers pursued him as he fled until an unidentified person intervened and rescued him.
Damilola said Obeisun subsequently arrived at the scene, picked him up and took him to a hospital, where he received medical treatment for the injuries he allegedly sustained during the incident.
Reacting to the development, APC leaders in the area described the alleged attack as barbaric and unacceptable, stressing that political disagreements should not be allowed to degenerate into violence, particularly after the conclusion of the election.
The leaders also recalled that the Divisional Police Officer in Ijebu-Ijesa, SP Alonge Jumoke, had earlier convened a peace meeting involving political party leaders, religious leaders and other stakeholders as part of efforts to promote peace and prevent politically motivated violence in the community.
They therefore urged political actors and their supporters to respect the peace initiative and refrain from actions capable of threatening the relative peace in the area.
The APC leaders called on the Osun State Commissioner of Police and other security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS), to conduct a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation into the alleged attack.
They specifically urged the security agencies to identify and apprehend anyone found to have participated in the alleged assault and prosecute such persons in accordance with the law, irrespective of their political affiliation.
However, the allegations have not been independently verified, and no official account from the accused persons or the Accord Party was available as of the time of filing this report.
There was also no official statement immediately available from the media aide to Obeisun concerning the incident.
The individuals named in Damilola’s account have not been convicted of any offence, and their alleged involvement remains subject to investigation by the appropriate security authorities.
The circumstances surrounding the incident, including the identities and actions of those involved, are expected to become clearer if and when the police commence a formal investigation.
