• Three injured as APC, Accord trade blame over violence
The Osun State Police Command has released the state Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Mayowa Adejoorin, on bail after detaining him for almost 24 hours in connection with a shooting incident during an All Progressives Congress rally in Ilesa.
Adejoorin was arrested on Saturday after violence erupted around the Isokun area of Ilesa, where an APC street rally was being held. At least three people were injured in the incident, including a 14-year-old boy, Tobi Ilesanmi, according to the police.
The incident has since triggered accusations and counter-accusations between the APC and the Accord Party, with both sides giving conflicting accounts of what led to the shooting.
Confirming Adejoorin’s release on Sunday, the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said the commissioner was released on bail while investigations into the incident continued.
“The commissioner has been released. He was released today, but the Amotekun that was arrested with him, I can’t confirm his release yet because I am still gathering my facts,” Ojelabi said.
The police spokesman had earlier explained that tactical officers responding to a distress call over the shooting intercepted a white Lexus 350 allegedly carrying an operative of the Osun State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun.
According to him, the vehicle was stopped as it approached the scene, while the occupants were taken to the command headquarters in Osogbo for questioning.
“We already have our tactical teams on the ground. We have over four IRT tactical teams on the ground posted to different locations. So the IRT that was closer to that place responded to that incident,” Ojelabi said.
He added that the officers found an Amotekun operative inside the vehicle and arrested him alongside another occupant, who was subsequently identified as Adejoorin.
“On intercepting the vehicle, they saw an Amotekun personnel in the vehicle. So they apprehended the vehicle, the personnel and one other person in the vehicle. They brought them straight to the headquarters here. On interrogation, it was discovered that the other occupant is Honourable Mayowa Adejoorin,” he said.
Ojelabi said the police recovered four expended cartridges from the scene and a pump-action firearm from the Amotekun operative, adding that the investigation was aimed at determining the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the level of involvement of those arrested.
“Three persons are confirmed injured, and they were taken to different hospitals. From the reports we have, they were shot at the rally scene,” he said.
The police spokesman further alleged that the incident began after a vehicle bearing the registration number OSHAO4 was noticed around the rally venue, from which persons identified as Amotekun operatives allegedly emerged and fired shots.
He said some participants at the rally chased the operatives, adding that one of them allegedly pulled out a knife when confronted before escaping.
The police subsequently moved to the scene, cordoned off the area and recovered exhibits, including expended cartridges and Amotekun personnel caps.
Meanwhile, the incident has deepened political tensions in the state, with the APC and Accord Party blaming each other for the violence.
The Head of the APC Campaign Council for Ilesa West, Folarin Fafowora, alleged that the shooting occurred towards the end of the party’s rally.
Fafowora claimed that the incident started shortly after a vehicle overtook the rally and that the Chief Whip of the Osun State House of Assembly, Wale Akerele, was among those present.
He alleged that shots were fired shortly afterwards, causing participants to flee in different directions.
“We were almost rounding up when, suddenly, a car overtook us. The occupant of the car was the Chief Whip of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Wale Akerele,” Fafowora said.
He further alleged that the situation escalated when armed men allegedly emerged from a vehicle and began shooting.
“From nowhere, they suddenly came out of the vehicle and started shooting. In fact, I had to hide to avoid being hit,” he added.
Fafowora also alleged that Amotekun vehicles were escorting the vehicle involved in the incident.
However, the allegations involving Akerele could not be independently established as of the time of filing this report.
Efforts to reach the lawmaker for his reaction were unsuccessful, as calls to his telephone line did not go through, while a WhatsApp message sent to him had yet to receive a response.
On its part, the Imole Campaign Council, through its spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, accused APC supporters of being responsible for the violence.
Olajengbesi alleged that members of the APC were shooting during the rally and accused them of destroying properties belonging to Accord Party members, including the party’s secretariat.
“The video of Ilesa shooting is all over the place. Members of the APC were shooting in the name of the rally, destroying properties that belong to the Accord members. They destroyed the Accord Party secretariat, and the videos are all over the place,” he said.
The conflicting accounts have heightened concerns over political violence in Osun ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.
The police, however, have yet to publicly establish responsibility for the shooting, as investigations remain ongoing.
The release of Adejoorin on bail does not amount to a declaration of innocence or guilt, as the police continue to investigate the incident and establish the circumstances surrounding the presence of the commissioner and the Amotekun operative at the scene.
The command has also not disclosed whether the arrested Amotekun operative has been released or whether additional suspects will be invited for questioning.
The shooting has further raised concerns about the conduct of political rallies and the involvement of security personnel in campaign activities as the state approaches the August 15 governorship election.
