Four persons were reportedly shot and injured during an All Progressives Congress, APC, rally in Ilesa, Osun State, on Saturday, with the police confirming the incident and the arrest of a suspect.
The incident occurred during a house-to-house campaign by APC supporters in the Ilesa metropolis.
The victims reportedly included a 14-year-old boy, Oluwatobi Ilesanmi, who was said to have been hit by a stray bullet. No death was recorded as of the time of filing this report, while the injured victims were taken to hospital for treatment.
An eyewitness, Kola Adeoti, said Oluwatobi was at his mother’s shop when he was hit by a stray bullet in the thigh. He alleged that personnel of a security outfit in the state, who were escorting.
Accord chieftains, opened fire on APC supporters, resulting in injuries and protests in Ilesa.An APC leader in Ilesa and former lawmaker, Mr Folarin Fafowora, said the party members had been conducting a house-to-house rally since 7am, moving through Wards 4 and 5.
According to him, the incident occurred as the rally, which started at Omo-Ofe area, was nearing its end at Isokun.He said, “A car overtook the team, parked and shot into the air using a pistol.
The occupant of the car, a lawmaker in the state, drove away and later returned with Amotekun operatives. They parked and started shooting sporadically at the people along with his escorts.
“By the time we realised what had happened, four persons had been hit and injured, while the Amotekun Corps provided cover for h and they ran away.”
Also, a member of the Ijesa-South campaign council, Engr. Remi Omowaye, said the teenager, Tobi Ilesanmi, was hit in front of his mother’s shop and rushed to Wesley Hospital for treatment.
He identified the other victims as a truck driver, Muhammed, and two APC members, Wasiu Akinde and Aderemi Adedeji. Omowaye alleged that the shooting occurred in the presence of police officers who were escorting the APC campaign team after it obtained permission to hold the rally.
He appealed to the Inspector-General of Police to intervene before the election to ensure that the governorship poll is conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.
However, the Accord Campaign Council spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, accused the police of harassment and intimidation of Accord chieftains.
He said the Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation in the state, Mr Mayowa Adejoorin, was illegally arrested and taken away by the police.
Olajengbesi said, “The latest victim of this alarming pattern is the Honourable Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Hon. Mayowa Adejoorin, a prominent native of Ikiyinwa in Obokun Local Government Area of the state.
“The manner of his arrest is particularly disturbing. We consider what happened to Hon. Adejoorin nothing short of a bandit-line abduction carried out under the cover of police authority.
“We are therefore deeply concerned that these arrests may be connected to an attempt to create an environment conducive to electoral manipulation in Ijesaland ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
”When contacted, the Osun State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the incident and said Adejoorin was arrested in connection with it.
He said, “Immediately the incident was reported, our personnel moved to the scene and cordoned off the area, after which some exhibits were recovered, including spent cartridges and Amotekun personnel caps.“
Also, Mr Adejoorin was arrested at the scene and has been taken to the command for questioning as part of the investigation process.”
