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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Conflict & Security

Osun violence: Adeleke, APC trade blame as three shot

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Violence erupted in Osun State, Nigeria, during a political rally, leaving at least three people injured and property damaged.
  • Governor Ademola Adeleke and the All Progressives Congress (APC) traded blame for the incidents, which spread from Ile-Ife to Osogbo.
  • The violence, involving alleged political thugs and gunfire, has raised concerns about the security situation ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign council exchanged accusations Tuesday over violence that marred a political rally and left three people injured.

There were coordinated attacks on residents of Ile Ife, Ede and Osogbo today by pro-Ambo political thugs.

— Ademola AdelekeGovernor Adeleke described the incidents as coordinated attacks during a visit to victims.

The clashes began in Ile-Ife during an APC-organized walk to support governorship candidate Bola Oyebamiji. Witnesses reported that the event devolved into violence around the Sabo area after campaign posters were torn down. Suspected political thugs allegedly used dangerous weapons, and a motorcycle belonging to one group was destroyed.

After the dastardly acts that occurred at Ile Ife, the attackers proceeded to Akoda, Owode, Olaiya, Old Garage, Okefia and other parts of Osogbo.

— Ademola AdelekeGovernor Adeleke detailed the progression of the attacks across different towns.

Following the Ile-Ife incident, gunshots were also reported in several areas of Osogbo, causing panic. An elderly man was injured in Owode-Ede and taken to Osun State University Teaching Hospital, while a commercial bus driver was hit by a bullet in the Aregbesola area and taken to an undisclosed hospital. Security personnel were observed at a business premises owned by an APC member in Testing Ground, who alleged that soldiers looted his property and arrested two staff.

The attackers in a 15-vehicle convoy branded with AMBO pictures paraded the towns without any response from the police.

— Ademola AdelekeGovernor Adeleke highlighted the lack of police intervention during the attacks.

Governor Adeleke, visiting victims, described the events as "coordinated attacks" by "pro-Ambo political thugs." He stated that attackers in a 15-vehicle convoy branded with "AMBO" pictures paraded towns without police intervention. He also expressed fears that one or two people might have been killed.

At the time of calling this press conference, several residents were feared injured and even one or two people killed.

— Ademola AdelekeGovernor Adeleke expressed concerns about the potential fatalities following the violence.
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Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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