Two feared dead, six injured in attack on APC members in Osun
…as Police arrest two suspects, recover ammunition
By Ismail Azeez
Two members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were killed, while six others sustained varying degrees of gunshot injuries after suspected gunmen attacked a political mobilisation meeting held for the party’s governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji in Osogbo on Wednesday night.
The attackers reportedly stormed the meeting in the Owode-Igbona area of Osogbo, where party members had gathered in two clusters ahead of the formal flag-off of the APC governorship campaign in Ile-Ife.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants, dressed in black police-like uniforms, arrived in a white bus and attempted to whisk away one of the APC youth leaders, identified as Ogunteru.
Sources stated that the victim resisted and escaped, prompting the gunmen to open fire indiscriminately on those at the venue.
Narrating his ordeal, an APC youth leader, Mr. Ogundele Awosola (Ogunteru), alleged that the attackers targeted him because he and other members had recently defected from the Accord Party to the APC.
According to him, “Last night, we were having a meeting with my people. We were in the Accord Party before but joined the APC recently. We saw a white bus and another vehicle and thought they were policemen, so we did not run.”
“But one of them, whom I know as Rugged, pointed a gun at me and ordered me to follow him. I told him I was not a cult member and asked what business I had with them. He fired into the air to threaten me, but I pushed him away and escaped.”
“I later called the police, and when they arrived, we discovered that many of our members had been shot. The police also recovered a new Beretta pistol at the scene. These people have been monitoring the area since we joined the APC,” he alleged.
Victims of the attack were identified as Kazeem Akande, 70, and Lekan, who both died from gunshot wounds. Others injured included the APC flag bearer in the area, Kehinde Salaudeen, 60; Olalekan Mutiu; and a 13-year-old girl, Rodiyat Ariyo, among others.
Meanwhile, the Osun State Police Command, through its Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the incidents, stating that two suspects had been arrested in connection with one of the attacks, while arms and ammunition were recovered at another scene.
“Regarding the incident at Egbatedo, one person was killed, several others were injured, and two suspects have been arrested. Some names mentioned by witnesses are already on the police watch list, and investigations are ongoing.”
“On the Owode-Igbona incident, no arrest has been made yet, but arms and ammunition were recovered. At the time of speaking, I cannot confirm the casualty figure, although several people sustained injuries. Investigations are ongoing,” he said.