The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has raised the alarm over deadly violence in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area, alleging that politically sponsored thugs attacked residents, killed innocent people and assaulted police officers.
The Osun APC Media Cluster, in an emergency press briefing on Monday, alleged that armed hoodlums linked to the Accord Party and allegedly operating under the political influence of the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke attacked a transport hub at Naira and Kobo Junction in Ikire.
According to the APC, the attack resulted in the deaths of commuters, a commercial driver and other travellers, while economic activities in the town were disrupted.
The party further alleged that the violence escalated when the Divisional Police Officer of the Irewole Police Division responded to a distress call concerning the alleged abduction and torture of an APC member at a motor park.
The APC claimed that the attackers assaulted police officers and seized service rifles. It identified alleged field commanders of the operation as Soskid, T. Banson and Ayewo, whom it described as a wanted individual.
The party also linked the latest violence to the February 17, 2025 murder of the then Chairman of Irewole Local Government, Remi Abass. It alleged that the failure to prosecute those responsible for previous political violence had emboldened criminal elements.
The APC specifically accused Senator Lere Oyewumi, Deputy Senate Minority Leader and Director-General of Governor Adeleke's campaign, of allegedly coordinating and sponsoring the latest violence. It also accused Oyewumi of making previous statements that encouraged aggression against APC members.
The allegations could not be independently verified from the statement.
The APC said the violence was particularly troubling because it occurred shortly after its governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, and Governor Adeleke separately met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who the party said had called for peace and stability in Osun State.
The party accused Governor Adeleke, as the state's Chief Security Officer, of failing to prevent the alleged activities of politically connected thugs and demanded urgent intervention by federal security authorities.
It called on the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 11, the Osun State Commissioner of Police and other security chiefs to deploy additional personnel to Ikire, secure local government secretariats and recover the allegedly stolen police weapons.
The APC also demanded the arrest and prosecution of those it named in connection with the violence, including Soskid, T. Banson, Ayewo and Jide Jooda, as well as the alleged political sponsors.
While commiserating with families of those reportedly killed, the APC urged its members and residents of Osun State to remain calm and refrain from reprisals.
The party said security agencies should be allowed to restore order and ensure that those responsible for the violence are brought to justice.
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