At least five people, including three commercial bus drivers and two passersby, are feared dead following a violent clash at Naira and Kobo Garage in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area of Osun State.
The incident reportedly occurred on Monday amid a dispute over the control of the motor park, with political thugs allegedly involved in the confrontation.
A source who witnessed the incident and escaped the scene told SaharaReporters that the violence was linked to a struggle for control of motor parks following the recent Osun State governorship election.
Various reports also alleged that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ikire, identified as Mr Olatona Bamidele, went to the garage during the incident to clear the road and facilitate access for suspected APC thugs allegedly led by a man identified as Ojuyobo.
According to the eyewitness, political thugs affiliated with different political interests had been fighting for control of major motor parks across the state.
“The issue started immediately after INEC declared the results of the Osun State governorship election, which produced Accord as the winner,” the source said.
“Before the election, you know that thugs loyal to the APC had taken over many motor parks in Osun State, including major towns such as Ikire, Ile-Ife and Osogbo.”
The source alleged that supporters of Accord subsequently moved to take control of some of the parks following the election results.
“After the election results, the Accord thugs took over the parks, believing that they now had the backing of the state government. That happened last week,” the source said.
He alleged that the violence witnessed on Monday was part of a coordinated attempt by rival political groups to reclaim control of the parks.
“So this morning, the APC thugs restrategised and launched attacks at different parks in major towns across the state,” he said.
“Both the issue of motor park leadership and the local government issues caused this morning’s attacks and killings. It happened around the same time across the state, including Ikire, Iwo and Osogbo.”
The source described the incident in Ikire as particularly brutal, saying he narrowly escaped from the scene.
“The one here in Ikire was brutal. I was around the scene when the attack started, and God saved me,” he said.
The witness, however, cautioned against immediately attributing the killings to either APC or Accord supporters.
“We cannot really say whether it was APC or Accord thugs that caused the killings, but what was certain was that they were political thugs,” he said.
A video seen by SaharaReporters showed at least two bodies lying on the ground at the scene.
One of the victims appeared to have suffered a gunshot wound to the head, while another body was seen lying motionless nearby.
The identities of the victims were not immediately known.
(SaharaReporters)
