The political crisis in Osun State deepened on Saturday as three persons sustained gunshot injuries during a street rally organised by members of the All Progressives Congress in Ilesa West Local Government Area of the state.
The incident, which occurred around the Isokun area of Ilesa, has triggered a fresh war of words between the APC and the Accord Party, with both sides trading accusations over the violence.
One of those injured was identified as 14-year-old Tobi Ilesanmi, who was reportedly shot close to the scene of the rally.
The development also led to the arrest of the Osun State Commissioner for Environment, Mayowa Adejoorin, after he was intercepted by police operatives while passing through Ilesa shortly after the incident. He was subsequently taken to the Osun State Police Command headquarters in Osogbo for questioning.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed that three persons were injured during the shooting, alleging that some Amotekun Corps operatives were involved in the incident.
According to him, the operatives were conveyed in a vehicle bearing an official Osun State Government number plate.
“Three persons are confirmed injured, and they were taken to different hospitals. From the reports we have, they were shot at the rally scene,” Ojelabi said.
He explained that trouble started when APC supporters noticed a vehicle with registration number OSHAO4 parked near the rally.
“Some people identified as Amotekun personnel came out of the car and shot sporadically, and everybody ran for safety,” he added.
Ojelabi further stated that some of the rally participants pursued the operatives, with one of them allegedly drawing a knife and attempting to stab those who approached him before escaping.
He said police tactical teams responded to the distress call and subsequently intercepted a white Lexus 350 believed to be connected to the incident.
According to him, an Amotekun operative and another occupant were found inside the vehicle, with the latter identified as Adejoorin.
“They brought them straight to the headquarters here. On interrogation, it was discovered that the other occupant is Honourable Mayowa Adejoorin,” he said.
The police spokesman added that four expended cartridges were recovered from the scene, while a pump-action firearm was recovered from the Amotekun operative.
He stressed that investigation was ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting and determine the level of involvement of those arrested.
Meanwhile, the Head of the APC Campaign Council for Ilesa West, Folarin Fafowora, said the incident occurred towards the end of the party’s rally.
Fafowora alleged that the situation suddenly turned chaotic after a vehicle overtook the rally and gunshots were heard.
“We were almost rounding up when, suddenly, a car overtook us. The occupant of the car was the Chief Whip of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Wale Akerele,” he said.
He added that confusion broke out as people began running for safety following the shooting.
However, the Imole Campaign Council spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, rejected the allegations against members of the Accord Party and instead accused APC members of being responsible for the violence.
Olajengbesi alleged that APC members were shooting during the rally and destroying properties belonging to Accord supporters.
“The video of Ilesa shooting is all over the place. Members of the APC were shooting in the name of the rally, destroying properties that belong to the Accord members,” he said.
He also alleged that the Accord Party secretariat was destroyed during the incident.
The allegations by both political camps could not be independently verified as of the time of filing the report.
Efforts to reach Akerele for his reaction were unsuccessful, as calls to his telephone line did not connect, while he had yet to respond to a message sent to him via WhatsApp.
