•Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State
The Osun State Police Command, yesterday, confirmed the killing of two civilians during an alleged attack on a patrol team while responding to a distress call in Ikire community of Irewole Local Council.
A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, stated that the killing occurred on Monday along the Ibadan–Ife Expressway.
According to Ojelabi, the patrol team, accompanied by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ikire Division, was responding to a distress call over alleged abduction of one Sunkanmi when they came under heavy gun attack by suspected political thugs.
The statement further stated that the police patrol vehicle, forcefully taken away by the assailants, was later abandoned and subsequently recovered with multiple bullet holes and a destroyed windscreen.
Meanwhile, the newly appointed Commissioner of Police (CP) of Osun State, Ibrahim Zungura, has visited the scene of the incident for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation and subsequently directed a comprehensive investigation to be conducted by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) over the incident, reports The Guardian.
Also, Osun State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, has raised the alarm over alleged plans to create fresh tension in local councils across the state, urging security agencies to protect council officials and workers.
Lawal’s allegation followed a statement by the Osun State Government alleging that some stakeholders were planning to cause crises at local councils and motor parks following the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
In a statement by Osun APC Director of Media and Information, Mogaji Kola Olabisi, the APC chairman cautioned Governor Ademola Adeleke against any action capable of plunging the state into another round of political tension.
On his part, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and immediate past governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola, yesterday, decried post-election violence allegedly recorded in some parts of the state, describing the development as a threat to democratic values, peace, and harmonious co-existence.
He, therefore, urged the police and other security agencies to rise to the challenge by restoring peace and tranquillity in the areas affected by alleged killings and violence.
In a statement by his Special Adviser, Dr Bolaji Akinola, Oyetola contended that the attacks on citizens constitute a threat to “peace, heritage and democratic values of the people of Osun State.”
He emphasised that no political ambition or commercial interest could ever justify the loss of human life, appealing to all stakeholders to reject violence and embrace dialogue in resolving disputes.
The minister also urged the security agencies to deploy adequate personnel to volatile locations, reclaim public spaces from hoodlums, and ensure that all those responsible for the killings and other acts of violence are swiftly apprehended and brought to justice.
The statement stated: “We are expressing our condolences to the families of those killed in the violence, while charging the Osun State Police Command and other security agencies to act decisively to restore order and protect residents, particularly in areas affected by the unrest.
“Politics must be a vehicle for development, not a catalyst for bloodshed. We are appealing to residents across the state to prioritise peace and restraint. The progress and prosperity of Osun State must not be sacrificed on the altar of political or commercial interests.
“We are also affirming our commitment to the peace, security and development of Osun State, urging citizens to work together to preserve the state’s long-standing reputation for civility, enterprise and democratic values.”
