In the last few weeks and less than two months to the August 15 gubernatorial election, Osun State has returned to a familiar and dangerous script of political thugs on motorcycles, gunshots in broad daylight, destroyed campaign materials, and families burying loved ones, OSUN DEFENDER reports.
The ruling Accord Party and the opposition All Progressives Congress are all pointing accusing fingers at one another, while the police face growing criticism for what many describe as inaction.
On Friday, Governor Ademola Adeleke, while hosting the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the ICT Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja, Adegoke Fayoade, at the Government House in Osogbo, said the state has recorded three unresolved political killings in recent weeks, with no single arrest made by the police.
He named the victims as Kolade Eluyera, Ezekiel Olapade and Busuyi Aderogba.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that the lifeless body of Kolade, who is the son of the Accord Woman Leader in Irewole Local Government, was found near Onireke Mosque, Ikire, after he was allegedly killed by suspected thugs working for the All Progressives Congress.
Ezekiel, a 14-year-old secondary school student, was killed at her mother’s palm wine shop in Ilobu by some assailants, allegedly led by a notorious thug identified as Saheed, popularly known as “Tanfeani.”
The assailants were said to attempt to enter the premises of the Irepodun Local Government secretariat when they spotted a man wearing a cap in the colour of a particular political party at the palm wine joint.
The armed men allegedly advanced towards the spot, firing shots indiscriminately and in the process, shot Ezekiel.
Aderogba, who is an Accord Party member, was killed in front of his father’s house in Esa Oke. Following his death, Governor Adeleke and the spokesperson for The Imole Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, accused the federal lawmaker representing Obokun/Oriade, Hon Wole Oke, of sponsoring the act.
Meanwhile, Adeleke, while hosting the DIG, also renewed his call for the redeployment of the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, accusing him of failing to act impartially in addressing political violence.
“You visit us at a time when we have recorded three unresolved political murders in the last few weeks. There has been no single arrest,” Adeleke told Fayoade.
Adeleke accused police officers of “negligence and partisanship” and said the Commissioner of Police had shown “a lack of willingness and capacity to act fairly and without partisan bias.”
“Only in Osun state do we have police operatives eager to arrest Accord members on the most minor of grounds but have yet to arrest a single suspect in a series of murders and gun attacks,” the governor added.
Beyond the deaths, there are several members of the APC and Accord party, as well as residents who have sustained injuries in the ongoing onslaught.
Residents of Ile-Ife, Ilesa, Owode-Ede, Ilobu, Ikire, Iwo and Osogbo have witnessed sporadic shootings by political thugs, a situation that causes panic in the communities.
Also, several campaign billboards belonging to the Accord and the APC were vandalised across the state.
Responding, Fayoade said the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, had ordered the AIG, Zone XI, and the CP to ensure an end to violence and pledged full investigations and prosecutions.
“I have also directed the AIG and the Commissioner of Police that any act of murder or brigandage or any unlawful act perpetrated in the state must be fully investigated. Anybody found culpable should be arrested and prosecuted,” Fayoade said.
He added that the police would replicate the “peaceful atmosphere” recorded in recent Anambra and Ekiti elections.
However, a few hours after meeting with the governor and giving his assurance, some political hoodlums abducted two members of the Accord Party in Osun State around Okesa, Ilesa.
The victims were identified as Mr Kasumu Simiyu, Treasurer of Accord Ward 07, Ilesa East Local Government, and Mr Dagunduro Iyiola.
Unconfirmed reports said the abductors later dropped the victims at a police station in Ilesa.
The spokesperson for the Osun Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, while appearing on a private TV programme on Friday in Osogbo, confirmed that the victims were with the police.
Ojelabi, however, failed to disclose if the abductors were arrested, as he evaded the question when asked.
Also, on Saturday, June 27, a member of the APC, Taofeek Mustapha, was shot by suspected political thugs in Osogbo.
The State Police Command confirmed the incident which happened in the Oluode-Aranyin area of the state.
The victim, who survived the shooting, pointed out that he was targeted by the thugs because he was wearing a political cap associated with the APC candidate.
- “Don’t Set Osun on Fire” – CSO
Commenting on the violence going on in the state, Coordinator of the Centre for Social Justice and Public Protection (CSJPP), Akin Akanji, warned that the cycle of killings and impunity could affect the August 15 election.
Akanji said politicians must pull their thugs off the streets and allow the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies to work without interference.
“Osun cannot afford another cycle of electoral violence. Politicians must not set the state on fire because of ambition,” he said while speaking with OSUN DEFENDER.
Akanji also urged the police to act visibly and promptly, adding, “If three political murders happen and no one is arrested, it sends a message that thuggery pays. That message will bring more deaths before August 15.”
For now, Osun is in a tense calm under watchful eyes. Billboards are being replaced, only to be watched for fresh damage. Families of the dead are waiting for arrests. The injured are recovering, but afraid to speak openly.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that DIG Fayoade, during his visit, said, “The police commissioner and his men will perform their duties in line with the constitution and in line with the rule of law. We are not going to allow anybody to violate the law of the land and cause any havoc or any uneasiness in the state.”
Whether that assurance translates to arrests, fewer injuries, and a peaceful August 15 will determine if Osun remembers this season for its politics or for its dead.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
