The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the alarm over the violence in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area of the state, alleging that political thugs were responsible for attacks that reportedly left innocent residents dead and police officers assaulted.
The party made the allegations on Monday during an emergency press briefing in Osogbo, where the text of the address was read by the Coordinator of the Osun APC Media Cluster, David Fagbohungbe.
The group alleged that armed thugs linked to the Accord Party attacked a transport hub around Naira and Kobo Junction in Ikire in an attempt to take control of local motor parks.
According to the group, the incident resulted in the deaths of a commercial driver, commuters and other passers-by, while economic activities in the town were disrupted.
The APC Media Cluster described the incident as an attack on public safety and constitutional authority, alleging that police officers who responded to a distress call were also assaulted.
The group said the police team had responded after an APC member was allegedly abducted and taken to a motor park, where he was reportedly tortured.It further alleged that the attackers seized service rifles from police officers during the incident.
The group identified some of those it alleged were involved in the attack as Soskid, T. Banson and Ayewo, whom it described as a wanted person.
The APC Media Cluster linked the latest violence to previous political violence in Irewole Local Government, recalling the killing of the then Chairman of the local government, Remi Abass, on February 17 last year.
The group alleged that no person had been brought to justice over the killing, despite claims linking Accord Party chieftain, Jide Jooda, to the incident.
It further stated that the failure to prosecute those responsible for previous political killings had emboldened violent elements in the area.
The group also alleged that the latest violence was coordinated and sponsored by Senator Lere Oyewumi, Deputy Senate Minority Leader and Director-General of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s campaign.
The group said the incident occurred shortly after APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and Governor Adeleke separately visited President Bola Tinubu, who it said directed that Osun State remain peaceful and governed by the rule of law.
“The timing of this violence reveals complete contempt for constitutional authority. This attack comes barely days after our governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, and Governor Ademola Adeleke separately visited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. During that visit, President Tinubu gave a clear directive that Osun State must remain peaceful, stable, and governed by the rule of law. While Asiwaju Oyebamiji has continuously sued for peace, urged calm, and chosen the path of constitutional engagement, the response from Governor Adeleke and his Accord Party allies has been to intensify street violence, disarm police officers, and attempt to forcefully overrun local government secretariats where reinstated APC chairmen are performing their statutory duties.” The group added.
The APC Media Cluster accused Governor Adeleke, as the state’s Chief Security Officer, of failing to prevent the activities of political thugs and called on security agencies to intervene.
The group appealed to the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 11, the Osun State Commissioner of Police and other security chiefs to deploy personnel to Ikire and secure local government secretariats.
It also demanded the recovery of the police weapons allegedly taken during the incident and the arrest and prosecution of those it named as suspects and their alleged political sponsors.
The group commiserated with the families of those killed in the violence and urged APC members and residents of Osun State to remain calm and avoid reprisal attacks.
It called on security agencies to carry out their duties and ensure that the rule of law prevailed in the state.