The Osun State Police Command has detained the state Commissioner for Environment, Mayowa Adejoorin, following a shooting incident that disrupted an All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Ilesa on Saturday.
The incident reportedly created panic among residents and political supporters in parts of the Ilesa metropolis, with at least four people sustaining injuries during the confrontation.
Although there were reports of gunshots being fired repeatedly, no death had been officially confirmed as of the time of filing this report. Those injured were reportedly taken to medical facilities for treatment.
The incident occurred while APC supporters were participating in campaign activities in the city.
According to accounts from the area, trouble started after some Accord Party chieftains allegedly encountered APC supporters, resulting in a confrontation that later escalated into gunfire.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation, with conflicting accounts emerging from the political camps involved.
An eyewitness, Kola Adeoti, said one of the victims was a 14-year-old boy identified as Ilesanmi.
According to Adeoti, the teenager was inside his mother’s shop when a stray bullet struck him in the thigh.
The eyewitness further alleged that security personnel accompanying some Accord Party chieftains opened fire in the direction of APC supporters.
He claimed the shooting subsequently generated anger among residents and supporters in the area, resulting in protests and further tension.
The police, however, have commenced investigations to establish what actually transpired and identify those responsible for firing the weapons.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said officers were quickly deployed to the area after receiving information about the shooting.
He explained that the police secured the scene and restricted movement around the location to prevent further violence and preserve possible evidence.
According to Ojelabi, investigators recovered several items from the scene, including expanded cartridges and caps reportedly associated with personnel of the Amotekun security outfit.
The police spokesman also confirmed that Adejoorin was arrested at the scene.
He said the commissioner was taken to the command for questioning as part of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Ojelabi said the arrest should not be viewed separately from the police investigation, stressing that officers were working to establish the facts surrounding the incident.
“Immediately the incident was reported, our personnel moved to the scene and cordoned off the area before some exhibits were recovered, which included expanded cartridges and Amotekun personnel caps,” he said.
He added that Adejoorin had been taken to the command for questioning as investigations continued.
The arrest has, however, sparked a political controversy, with the Imole Campaign Council, linked to Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, strongly objecting to the police action.
The council described the arrest as politically motivated and accused the police of targeting Accord Party leaders ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.
Speaking at a press conference at the Imole Media Centre in Osogbo, the state capital, on Saturday, the council’s spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, expressed concern over the circumstances surrounding the commissioner’s detention.
Olajengbesi described Adejoorin as a prominent indigene of Ikiyinwa in Obokun Local Government Area and alleged that his arrest formed part of what he called a broader pattern of arrests involving Accord leaders and supporters in Ijesaland.
According to him, some political figures were being removed from campaign activities at a critical stage of the electoral process.
He alleged that such arrests could weaken the organisational structure of the Accord Party and create an uneven political environment ahead of the election.
The campaign council also accused the APC of attempting to gain an advantage in Ijesaland through actions that, according to the group, could intimidate political opponents.
Olajengbesi urged the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to intervene and examine the activities of the Osun State Police Command in relation to the arrests of opposition political figures.
He also questioned the basis for Adejoorin’s arrest and demanded that the police explain the allegations against the commissioner.
The council further called for Adejoorin’s immediate release, insisting that there should be clear evidence and a lawful basis for his continued detention.
The political group also warned that the alleged targeting of political leaders could increase tension in the state as parties intensify their campaigns ahead of the governorship election.
However, the police have maintained that the commissioner’s arrest is connected to the Ilesa shooting and that he is being questioned as part of the investigation.
At present, the police have not announced any criminal charge against Adejoorin, while the investigation remains ongoing.
The command is expected to examine the exhibits recovered from the scene, interview witnesses and other individuals present during the rally, and establish the identities of those who discharged firearms.
The authorities will also have to determine how the four victims sustained their injuries and whether the shooting was connected to the confrontation between supporters of the rival political groups.
The incident has once again raised concerns about political violence and the conduct of campaign activities ahead of the Osun governorship election.
With political parties stepping up their mobilisation across the state, security agencies are under increasing pressure to prevent clashes and ensure that campaign events take place without intimidation or violence.
For now, attention remains focused on the police investigation and the outcome of the questioning of the commissioner, while political actors continue to trade accusations over the events that occurred in Ilesa.
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