Families of four people killed during the violence at Naira and Kobo garage in Ikire, Osun State, have rejected the police account of the incident and demanded an independent investigation into the deaths.
The families made their position known at a press conference organised by Senator Lere Oyewumi and families of the victims and wounded persons over the incident, which occurred on Monday, August 24, 2026.
The group expressed concern over what it described as a one-sided investigation by the police, alleging that those who were present during the incident were not given the opportunity to present their accounts before the conclusion of the police investigation.
The families also alleged that some suspects were pressured to make confessional statements linking Senator Oyewumi to the incident.
They questioned the presence of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and his men at the motor park, insisting that the Naira and Kobo garage was peaceful before the incident.
The group also questioned why the police allegedly opened fire at the park and how unarmed civilians could have disarmed six fully armed police officers, as claimed in the police account.
The families accused the police of attempting to protect the DPO and his men from possible culpability, insisting that the circumstances surrounding the deaths required a fresh and independent investigation.
According to the group, “The naira and kobo garage was peaceful as at the day of the incident. So what was the DPO doing at the NAIRA and Kobo garage?
“The storming of the park by the DPO came on the day the APC thugs vowed to take over Osun motor parks. Is the DPO at the park to assist the take over of the park?
“Why did the DPO and his men launch sporadic shooting when.the park was peaceful and without any confrontation?
“How is it possible for unarmed civilians at motor parks to disarm six fully armed policemen?
“We make bold to say that the police has not conducted any investigation because it is desperate to protect the DPO.The culpability of the DPO and his men in this matter cannot be swept under the carpet.”
They also rejected any attempt to link Senator Oyewumi to the violence, describing him as a community leader who intervened to prevent the situation from degenerating into further violence.
According to the group, Oyewumi appealed to residents not to take the law into their own hands and assisted the Commissioner of Police in navigating troubled areas during the crisis.
The families said the senator’s intervention helped prevent possible reprisal attacks and further escalation in the community.
They therefore called on the Osun State Government to expedite the establishment of a commission of inquiry to investigate the Ikire incident and other related matters.
The group demanded justice for those killed and injured, insisting that the circumstances surrounding the incident should be properly investigated and those found responsible held accountable.
