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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Conflict & Security

Motor park takeover bid leaves two dead in Osun

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Two people were reportedly killed in Ikire, Osun State, Nigeria, during an alleged attempt to take over a motor park.
  • The incident involved drivers loyal to different political parties, leading to a violent clash and damage to a police vehicle.
  • Political parties have traded accusations, with the APC claiming five lives were lost and the Accord Party alleging police involvement.

A violent clash erupted in Ikire, Osun State, Nigeria, on Monday, reportedly resulting in two deaths amid an alleged attempt to seize control of a motor park. The incident occurred at the Naira and Kobo Junction, involving drivers associated with different political factions.

A political thug said to be working for the All Progressives Congress and his team were at the motor park in Ikire around Naira and Kobo area in Ikire when some political thugs from Accord stormed the area around 10:30 am to take over the place.

— Unnamed eyewitnessDescribing the alleged political affiliation of those involved in the motor park takeover attempt.

Eyewitness accounts suggest that drivers loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC) were in control of the park until members of the Accord Party arrived and attempted to take over. The ensuing melee saw a new Toyota Hilux vehicle belonging to the Ikire Divisional Police Station damaged, with its windscreen smashed and tires defaced.

The Accord Party members were trying to take over the park from those of the APC extraction, and during the mayhem, an Accord member was shot.

— Unnamed Ikire residentExplaining the sequence of events and the alleged involvement of political parties and a shooting.

Conflicting narratives emerged regarding the events. One account stated that an Accord Party member was shot during the confrontation. Another resident claimed that after an Accord member was allegedly killed, Accord Party members reported the divisional police officer's involvement to the Akire of Ikire's palace. During a meeting there, police reportedly stated that Accord members had abducted the secretary of the Palm Oil Sellers Association, and an exchange of fire occurred while pursuing the alleged kidnappers, leading to a stray bullet hitting a victim.

the crisis began when suspected hoodlums allegedly working for the Accord Party launched a violent assault to forcefully hijack a motor park.

— Oluwafunsho FagbohungbeChairman, Osun APC Media Cluster, accusing the Accord Party of initiating the violence.

The Osun State chapter of the APC accused Governor Ademola Adeleke's administration of supporting the individuals involved in the violence, claiming five lives were lost and police personnel were assaulted. Conversely, the Osun Accord Party chairman condemned the incident, alleging that a police officer instigated the mayhem and acted unprofessionally.

there was no crisis or conflict at the park at the time the officer allegedly fired shots, accusing him of acting unprofessionally without prov

— Victor AkandeOsun Accord Party chairman condemning the incident and alleging police misconduct.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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