Tension has gripped Ikire, headquarters of Irewole Local Government Area of Osun State, following a fresh outbreak of violence that reportedly left two people dead amid a clash involving suspected political hoodlums and police officers.
The incident, which occurred on Monday, disrupted commercial activities and heightened fears among residents, particularly around the Irewole Local Government Secretariat and the popular Naira and Kobo Garage.
The immediate cause of the confrontation remained unclear as of the time of filing this report.
However, sources said suspected hoodlums were seen along the expressway leading to the affected areas before the situation escalated.
It was also gathered that some residents were allegedly held hostage by the suspected hoodlums, prompting a distress call to the police.
The Divisional Police Officer of the Ikire Police Division was said to have mobilised additional personnel to the area after the initial officers were reportedly overwhelmed.
Two persons were subsequently killed, reportedly by stray bullets, while several residents fled the area for safety.
APC Accuses Accord Supporters
The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) accused suspected thugs allegedly linked to the Accord Party and supporters of Governor Ademola Adeleke of orchestrating the violence.
Speaking at an emergency press conference in Osogbo, the APC Media Cluster Chairman, Oluwafunsho Fagbohungbe, alleged that the violence started after suspected hoodlums attempted to take control of the Naira and Kobo motor park.
He claimed that a commercial driver and a passenger were killed during the confrontation, while economic activities in Ikire were disrupted.
Fagbohungbe further alleged that police officers were assaulted and their service rifles seized during the incident.
The APC called for an immediate investigation, the arrest of those responsible and the deployment of additional security personnel to restore order.
The party also alleged that some named individuals and political actors were behind the violence, but the claims had not been independently verified.
The APC urged the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 11 and the Osun State Commissioner of Police to take immediate action to restore law and order.
Accord accuses Police DPO
The Accord Party, however, rejected the APC’s account and accused the DPO of the Irewole Police Division, Bamidele Olatona, of being responsible for the deaths.
In a statement signed by the party’s state chairman, Victor Akande, Accord alleged that Olatona personally opened fire at the Naira and Kobo Garage.
The party claimed that there was no dispute or attempt to take over the motor park when the DPO allegedly arrived and fired into the crowd.
According to Accord, a commercial bus driver, identified as Saheed Akinrole, and an innocent passenger were killed in the incident.
The party described the alleged action as part of what it called a pattern of misconduct by the police officer and called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Osun State Commissioner of Police and the Police Service Commission to investigate Olatona.
Accord demanded his arrest, psychological evaluation, dismissal and prosecution if found culpable.
Police Commissioner Visits Ikire
As of the time of filing the report, the Osun State Commissioner of Police was in Ikire to assess the situation and address the incident.
The conflicting accounts from the APC and Accord Party could not be independently verified, while details surrounding the circumstances of the two deaths remained unclear.
The incident comes amid heightened political tension in Osun State following the recent governorship election, with security agencies expected to establish the circumstances that led to the violence and determine those responsible.
Authorities are also expected to establish whether any police firearms were actually seized during the confrontation and whether the deaths resulted from police action, gunfire from suspected hoodlums or other circumstances.
