18th February 2025
By Idris Buba
There was accusations and counter accusations between the All Progressives Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Osun state on Monday, over the escalating violence which led to the killing of a former chairman of Irewole Local Government Area, Mr. Aderemi Abbas, and six others.
Reports have it that the crisis was triggered by a contentious Court of Appeal ruling allegedly reinstating APC-elected local government chairmen and councillors who were elected at the tail end of Gboyega Oyetola’s administration as governor.
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, had earlier the previous day raised alarm alleging a conspiracy led by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, and some heads of security agencies to enforce the ruling.
Adeleke had urged the public to hold Oyetola and the state’s security chiefs accountable for any outbreak of violence.
The ensued crisis was a free-for-all violence as supporters of the APC and PDP unleashed mayhem on local government secretariats across the state, on Monday, leaving deaths and injured persons in its wake
According to a security source present at the scene, who craved anonymity, “Today at 11:56am, the APC chairman, Hon Remi Abass, and his men were taking steps to enter local government premises in Ikire. This led to confrontation with PDP members. During the confrontation, many people were wounded with machetes and bullets, and one person was gunned down immediately.”
Violences were also recorded in other local government areas, as two persons were reportedly shot dead at Iragbiji, the headquarters of Boripe Local Government Area.
Olaoluwa and Isokan areas of the state were not left out, witnesses reported gunfights between rival groups, leaving several people injured.
Two persons were reportedly shot dead in Iragbiji, Boripe LGA, as the violence spread to Isokan LGA, where two people were injured in clashes, while in Olaoluwa, another fatal shooting occurred.
At Olorunda LGA, APC members’ attempts to take over the council secretariat were met with resistance, prompting heavy police presence to restore order.
Two pers were also injured at Ikoyi, while the violence claimed the life of a man, whose identity could not be immediately ascertained at Bode Osi, the headquarters of Olaoluwa Local Government Area.
Gunshots were heard at the gate of Osogbo Central Local Government Area, Oke Baale, Osogbo early as PDP, APC members clashed in an attempt to enter the council secretariat.
While the shooting lasted, Osogbo/Ibokun road that passes the front of the local government secretariat was deserted.
READ MORE; Post Local Government Election Violence Rocks Rivers State
In Atakumosa West Local Government Secretariat, ex-member of Osun State House of Assembly, Festus Komolafe, led elected APC members into the premises.
They however came out a few minutes after.
In Egbedore Local Government secretariat, Awo, PDP members wielding cane were singing at the entrance to the secretariat, daring APC members to come near them.
While APC members, it was learnt, resumed at Ayedaade LGA, secretariat located in Gbongan, but the same cannot be said of Olorunda local government secretariat, in Igbona, Osogbo were resistance, leading to tension in the area
Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered additional tactical squads to Osun State in response to the violence,
Force spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement, condemned the violence, describing it as a threat to democracy and public safety.
“In response to the ongoing violence in Osun State, the Nigeria Police Force has condemned, in strong terms, the incidents that have disrupted peace and safety in the state, and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. These violent actions had disrupted the peace, leading to the destruction of property, and the unfortunate loss of innocent lives,” the statement read.
