Pre-election tension in Osun State has risen following a renewed outbreak of political violence in which two people were killed and six others injured.
The incident occurred on Wednesday night at Owode-Igbona, Osogbo, during what was described as a meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC), where suspected gunmen reportedly attacked attendees.
The violence later spread to Egbatedo, where vehicles were destroyed and residents sustained injuries.
The meeting was said to have been aimed at mobilising support for the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of Thursday’s campaign flag-off in Ile-Ife.
Top APC figures, including Engr. Oluremi Omowaiye, Hon. Adebayo Adeleke and Ambassador Issah Niniola, visited the scene and the hospitals where the injured victims were receiving treatment.
An APC youth leader, Ogundele Awosola (Ogunteru), alleged that he and others were targeted because they had recently defected from the Accord Party to the APC.
He claimed the attackers had been monitoring the area, threatened people at gunpoint and fired at APC members, adding that the police recovered a Beretta pistol at the scene.
He also claimed that some of the attackers had recently been released from prison, naming two individuals.
The deceased were identified as Kazeem Akande, 70, and Lekan, both of whom were said to have died from gunshot wounds.
The injured included Kehinde Salaudeen, 60, Olalekan Mutiu and a 13-year-old girl, Rodiyat Ariyo, among others.
Hon. Akinloye Isiaka, a former Accord Party local government chairman who defected to the APC, said he escaped because he left shortly before the attack.
Senior Special Assistant to the President, Ambassador Issah Niniola, condemned the attack as politically motivated and urged party members not to be intimidated.
Former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Adebayo Adeleke, alleged that some of the perpetrators operated from Government House and urged the Inspector-General of Police to act urgently.
The Head of the Governorship Campaign Council, Engr. Oluremi Omowaiye, confirmed that the two bodies had been taken to the morgue, saying that X-ray findings suggested that an AK-47 rifle was used. He called for justice, saying APC supporters believed the violence would not stop the party’s chances.
Governor Ademola Adeleke urged calm, saying the attack was suspected to be cult-related.
In a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor debunked any insinuation of state government involvement and called on security agencies to investigate and arrest those behind the attack.
The Osun State Police Command confirmed the incidents through the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi.
According to the police, one person was killed and several others were injured at Egbatedo. He said two suspects had been arrested and arms were recovered.
Ojelabi said no arrest had been made in connection with the Owode-Igbona incident, but arms and ammunition had been recovered. He added that investigations were ongoing and that the police could not confirm the actual number of casualties.
Our correspondent observed that shops in Owode-Igbona and Egbatedo had been shut, while residents were living in fear.
(The Sun)