Key Takeaways
- Osun State Commissioner for Environment, Mayowa Asejoorin, was arrested in connection with a shooting at an All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Ilesa.
- Four individuals, including a 14-year-old boy, sustained injuries during the violent incident.
- Police confirmed the arrest and reported recovering expanded cartridges and Amotekun security personnel caps from the scene.
- Governor Ademola Adeleke's Imole Campaign Council denounced the arrest as a "bandit-like abduction" and a politically motivated plot to silence Accord Party leaders.
- The Council has called for the immediate intervention of the Inspector General of Police, alleging a disturbing pattern of arrests targeting Accord members in Ijesaland.
Political tensions have flared in Osun State following the arrest of the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Mayowa Asejoorin, in connection with a shooting incident at an All Progressives Congress (APC) rally held in Ilesa on Saturday. The violent disruption reportedly left four persons injured, including a minor, and has ignited a fierce political debate.
Eyewitnesses at the scene recounted a chaotic atmosphere during the APC rally in the Ilesa metropolis. It was gathered that supporters were allegedly attacked by individuals associated with Accord chieftains, leading to sporadic gunshots. Among the injured was a 14-year-old boy identified as Ilesanmi, who was reportedly hit by a stray bullet on his thigh while at his mother's shop.
Kola Adeoti, an eyewitness, further alleged that personnel from a state-based security outfit, who were escorting the Accord chieftains, fired directly at APC members. This account has fueled protests and heightened public concern over political violence in the region. While no fatalities were recorded as of press time, all injured victims were promptly taken to the hospital for urgent medical attention.
Confirming the incident, Osun State Police Command spokesperson DSP Abiodun Ojelabi stated that Mr. Mayowa Asejoorin was indeed arrested in connection with the shooting. "Immediately the incident was reported, our personnel moved to the scene, cordoned off the area before some exhibit were recovered, which included expanded cartridges, Amotekun personnel caps," DSP Ojelabi explained. He added that Mr. Asejoorin was taken to the command headquarters for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation.
In a swift and strong reaction, Governor Ademola Adeleke's campaign team, the Imole Campaign Council, vehemently condemned the arrest. Speaking to newsmen at the Imole Media Centre in Osogbo, Pelumi Olajengbesi, the Council's spokesman, described the manner of arrest as "particularly disturbing." He characterized it as nothing short of a "bandit-like abduction carried out under the cover of police authority."
Olajengbesi further alleged that the arrest was part of a broader, disturbing pattern targeting prominent Accord leaders and supporters in Ijesaland. He claimed that these individuals are being picked up by the Police on allegations that are "apparently motivated by sinister political calculations," thereby removing them from circulation during a critical period of the electoral process. The Imole Campaign Council expressed deep concern that these arrests might be an attempt to weaken the Accord Party's structures and create an environment conducive to electoral manipulation ahead of critical electoral processes in the region.
The Council directly appealed to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Tunji Disu, to urgently intervene in the situation. They called on the IGP to rein in the Osun State Police Command and Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gothan, and to investigate the alleged pattern of arrests involving Accord leaders. Demanding answers, Olajengbesi questioned the basis for Asejoorin's arrest, the evidence against him, and why the Police appear to be deploying its powers primarily against Accord political leaders. The Imole Campaign Council concluded by demanding the immediate release of Hon. Mayowa Asejoorin, asserting that there is no lawful and credible basis for his detention.
Why This Matters
The arrest of a sitting commissioner and the subsequent allegations of political targeting underscore the volatile nature of the political landscape in Osun State, particularly during electoral cycles. Such incidents can erode public trust in law enforcement's impartiality and potentially destabilize democratic processes, highlighting the urgent need for transparent investigations and adherence to the rule of law to ensure peace and fairness.