The Imole Campaign Council (TICC) has called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Olatunji Disu, to immediately arrest and prosecute those allegedly responsible for the killing of a 14-year-old boy, Ezekiel Olapade, during a violent incident in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State.
Addressing a world press conference in Osogbo on Monday, the Director-General of the campaign council, Senator Olalere Oyewumi, described the killing as a tragic development and condemned what he termed the rising wave of political violence in the state.
Oyewumi alleged that the teenager was shot dead on June 21 while attempting to rescue his mother, who had fallen while fleeing from sporadic gunfire during an attack reportedly carried out by armed political thugs in Ilobu.
According to him, eyewitness accounts indicated that the boy was neither a political actor nor involved in any confrontation before he was killed.
The campaign council expressed concern that the Osun State Police Command had publicly identified the alleged leader of the group linked to the attack, insisting that the public was now waiting to see whether the acknowledgement would be followed by decisive action.
He said, “The circumstances surrounding the death of this innocent child are both heartbreaking and infuriating. According to accounts from his family and eyewitnesses, Ezekiel was not a political actor, nor was he engaged in any confrontation. He was simply trying to rescue his mother who had fallen while fleeing from the scene of a sporadic shooting unleashed by a criminal gang led by one Saheed Kareem, popularly known as “Tanfeani.” In that courageous attempt to save his mother, the young boy paid the ultimate price with his life, Tanfeani and his gang shot him on the head and the innocent youngster died right there on the spot.”
While extending condolences to the family of the deceased, Oyewumi said no parent should have to bury a child as a result of political violence, adding that the incident reflected a disturbing trend of politically motivated attacks across the state.
He further alleged that the assailants invaded the Irepodun Local Government Secretariat and attacked facilities within the premises, including the office of the Amotekun Corps, describing the action as an attempt to instill fear and undermine lawful security structures.
The campaign council maintained that it had repeatedly warned that the failure of law enforcement authorities to decisively address political violence could embolden criminal elements, noting that the Ilobu incident was not an isolated case.
Oyewumi recalled previous incidents of violence in Ikire, Ilesa, Owode-Ede and Osogbo, claiming that party members and leaders had been victims of attacks in different parts of the state despite repeated appeals for security agencies to act.
He said the people of Osun could no longer continue to live under the threat of politically motivated killings, stressing that democracy could not thrive in an atmosphere where violence and impunity prevailed.
The council therefore urged the Inspector-General of Police to order a comprehensive investigation into all reported cases of political violence in Osun State and ensure that perpetrators, sponsors and collaborators were brought to justice regardless of their status or political affiliation.
Oyewumi also expressed lack of confidence in the leadership of the Osun State Police Command under Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gottan, citing recurring incidents of violence, perceived selective law enforcement and what he described as a failure to deter criminal activities.
He called on the Inspector-General to redeploy the commissioner from the state and institute an investigation into what the council termed persistent operational failures and lapses in law enforcement oversight.
The campaign council further appealed to the National Human Rights Commission, civil society organisations, election observers, diplomatic missions and the international community to closely monitor developments in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
Oyewumi, however, maintained that supporters of Governor Ademola Adeleke remained committed to peace, democracy and the rule of law, insisting that justice for victims of political violence remained the surest path to lasting peace in the state.
