JUST IN: Osun Commissioner Arrested Over Shooting At APC Rally

The Osun State Police Command has arrested the state Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Mayowa Adejoorin, over a shooting incident that occurred during an All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Ilesa on Saturday.

According to IREPORTER Online, the commissioner was arrested after police tactical operatives reportedly intercepted a white Lexus 350 allegedly connected to the incident.

The incident reportedly caused panic among APC supporters after individuals identified as operatives of the Amotekun Corps allegedly emerged from a vehicle parked near the rally venue and fired shots.

The spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the vehicle reportedly carried registration number OSHAO4. He explained that the alleged shooting prompted some rally participants to chase the fleeing individuals.

According to the police, one of the persons pursued allegedly pulled out a knife and attempted to prevent those chasing him from getting closer before escaping from the scene.

Ojelabi said the incident was subsequently reported to the police, leading tactical officers already deployed in the area to respond.

He said officers later intercepted a white Lexus 350 and took the occupants to the command headquarters for questioning. During interrogation, police reportedly discovered that one of the occupants was Commissioner Adejoorin.

The police said investigations were ongoing to determine whether the commissioner had any involvement in the shooting and to establish the circumstances surrounding his presence in the vehicle.

The arrest has, however, triggered a strong reaction from the Imole Campaign Council, which accused the police of political bias and alleged that Adejoorin was being targeted because of his political affiliation with Governor Ademola Adeleke’s camp.

The council’s spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, alleged that the commissioner was arrested outside Ilesa while travelling towards Osogbo. He also claimed that Adejoorin had earlier received a threatening telephone call from a federal lawmaker warning him about a possible arrest.

Olajengbesi described the arrest as disturbing and accused security agencies of allegedly targeting Accord Party leaders and supporters in Ijesaland ahead of the governorship election.

The campaign council questioned the basis for Adejoorin’s arrest and demanded that the police provide evidence linking him to the shooting incident.

It also appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to intervene and ensure that security agencies remain impartial in the political process.

Despite the arrest, the campaign council insisted that its political activities would continue, maintaining that the development would not intimidate its members.

The police have not indicated when the investigation will be concluded, while the allegations made by the campaign council remain subject to verification.