By John Dike, Osogbo
At least, two persons were feared killed on Monday during a violent incident at the Naira and Kobo motor park Ikire, headquarters of Irewole Local Government Area of Osun State.
The incident caused confusion, with conflicting reports emerging over the number of people killed.
While the Ikire Concerned Youths (ICY) put the death toll at two, the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations for Good Governance (CCSOGG) claimed that five people were killed in the incident.
Several others were also reportedly injured in the violence, which allegedly involved sporadic gunshots and sent residents, traders and transport workers fleeing for safety.
The incident occurred barely nine days after the August 15 governorship election in Osun State, amid heightened political tension and allegations of post-election violence in parts of the state.
The two groups, in separate statements, called for an immediate and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the violence, particularly the alleged conduct of the Divisional Police Officer of Irewole Division.
The Ikire Concerned Youths expressed outrage over the reported shooting at the busy motor park, alleging that the DPO recklessly used his firearm during the incident.
The group alleged that one of the victims was a commercial bus driver identified as Saheed Akinrole, while another was a passenger.
It therefore called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Osun State Commissioner of Police and the Police Service Commission to immediately investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths and establish the role, if any, played by the police officer.
The youths further alleged that the DPO had displayed partisan conduct during the 2026 Osun governorship election and accused the police division under his command of failing to adequately address criminal activities in the community.
The group demanded that the police officer be arrested and subjected to investigation, adding that he should face appropriate disciplinary or criminal action if found culpable.
The youths, however, appealed to residents and young people in the town to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands.
Similarly, the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations for Good Governance condemned the violence and called for a transparent and independent investigation.
In a statement signed by its Secretary, Olalekan Johnson, the coalition claimed that five people—three commercial bus drivers and two passersby—were killed during the incident.
According to the coalition, the violence reportedly started following an attempt by suspected political thugs to take control of the motor park.
It said the incident created panic in the town, forcing residents to flee while some businesses reportedly shut down.
The coalition expressed concern over allegations that some elements within the security architecture might have aided or facilitated the attempted takeover of the motor park.
It therefore demanded an independent investigation into the conduct of the DPO and any other security personnel alleged to have compromised the operation.
The coalition said any security officer found to have facilitated criminal activities or provided protection for political thugs should face appropriate disciplinary and criminal sanctions.
It also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct relevant security and intelligence agencies to investigate the incident and ensure that anyone found responsible was prosecuted.
The group urged the authorities to investigate alleged sponsors, financiers and masterminds of political violence in Osun State, regardless of their political affiliation or social standing.
It maintained that the investigation should be sufficiently independent to command public confidence.
“The Police cannot investigate itself through a process designed to protect its own personnel,” the coalition said, stressing that the circumstances surrounding the killings required an investigation capable of winning public confidence.
The group also warned politicians, political godfathers, suspected sponsors of thuggery, criminal gangs and compromised security personnel against further destabilising the state.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has also condemned the violence, alleging that suspected political thugs attacked residents and assaulted police officers during the incident.
The position of the APC was contained in an emergency press briefing delivered by Mr Oluwafunsho Fagbohungbe on behalf of the Osun APC Media Cluster.
Fagbohungbe alleged that suspected hoodlums attempted to take control of the Naira and Kobo transport hub, resulting in the reported deaths and injuries.
According to him, the situation escalated after the DPO responded to a distress call over the alleged abduction and assault of an APC member at a motor park.
He alleged that the suspected hoodlums attacked the police personnel who arrived at the scene and reportedly seized service rifles from officers.
The APC spokesman named some of the alleged perpetrators as Soskid, T. Banson and Ayewo, describing them as suspected political thugs and alleging that Ayewo was already wanted by law enforcement authorities.
The party also alleged that the latest incident was part of a wider pattern of political violence in Irewole Local Government.
Fagbohungbe recalled the killing of the former Chairman of Irewole Local Government, Hon. Remi Abass, on February 17 last year, alleging that the failure to bring the perpetrators to justice had contributed to the recurrence of violence in the area.
He also alleged that Accord Party chieftain, Jide Jooda, had previously been mentioned in connection with the killing and called for a thorough investigation.
The APC further alleged that the latest violence was politically coordinated and accused Senator Lere Oyewumi, Deputy Senate Minority Leader and Director-General of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s campaign, of sponsoring the activities of suspected thugs.
The allegations against Oyewumi, Jooda and the other individuals named by the APC were not independently verified.
Security Agencies Urged to Act
The APC called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 11, the Osun State Commissioner of Police and other security chiefs to urgently intervene in the situation.
The party demanded increased security deployment to Ikire and other identified flashpoints, as well as the recovery of any police weapons allegedly seized during the incident.
It also urged security agencies to investigate all allegations surrounding the violence and prosecute anyone found culpable.
The APC called on its members and residents to refrain from retaliatory attacks, stressing that political differences should not be allowed to degenerate into further bloodshed.
As of the time of filing this report, the casualty figures could not be independently reconciled, with the two civil society groups giving different figures.
The allegations concerning the conduct of the DPO, the circumstances of the reported shootings and the identities of those responsible for the deaths also remained subject to official investigation.
The police authorities had yet to publicly respond to the specific allegations against the DPO or provide a comprehensive account of the incident.
