One person has been killed in Ile-Ife, Osun State, following a clash between rival groups over the control of a motor park in the ancient city.
The deceased, identified as Olalekan Ajagungbade, popularly known as Emir, was a chieftain of the Accord Party in the state. He was reportedly shot during a meeting with some drivers around Mayfair Motor Park on Sunday afternoon.
Sources said the incident occurred at about 1:20 pm when Ajagungbade and his men allegedly engaged a rival group in a fight over the leadership and control of the park.
A security source said a distress call was received shortly after the clash began, adding that Ajagungbade was shot in the head during the confrontation.
The source further disclosed that the vehicle conveying some members of the rival group later crashed into an 18-seater bus along the Ife-Ibadan Expressway while fleeing the scene.
Following the incident, police operatives reportedly took over the Mayfair Motor Park as tension spread to other parts of Ile-Ife.
Gunshots were also reportedly heard in Isale Osun and Asoje areas of Osogbo, the state capital, causing residents to remain indoors for fear of being caught in the violence.
The Osun State Police Command had yet to officially comment on the incident as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, Governor Ademola Adeleke has ordered the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, to immediately arrest everyone linked to Ajagungbade’s killing.
In a statement signed by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke described the incident as allegedly resulting from a motor park leadership tussle and directed the immediate vacation of motor parks by warring groups.
The governor also ordered security agencies to restore normalcy across affected motor parks and ensure the maintenance of law and order.
Adeleke further announced plans to reintroduce the Park Management System in the state, saying he would soon issue an Executive Order to establish the new system for managing parks and garages.
He warned that there would be no sacred cows in the investigation, directing security agencies to ensure that all those responsible for the killing were brought to book.
The governor also appealed to residents to remain calm as security agencies work to restore peace in the affected areas.
