TWO FEARED DEAD AS VIOLENCE BREAKS OUT AT OSUN MOTOR PARK

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By:Tajudeen Aminat

Two people were feared killed in Ikire, Osun State, on Monday following a clash reportedly triggered by an attempt to take control of a motor park around Naira and Kobo Junction.

One of the videos obtained by the press showed a man slumped inside a vehicle, appearing lifeless, with an open wound on his head. Another image showed a man lying face down in a pool of blood.

Sources who spoke on condition of anonymity alleged that the motor park had been controlled by drivers loyal to the All Progressives Congress until some drivers believed to be members of the Accord Party arrived around 10:30am and allegedly attempted to take over the park.

An eyewitness said political thugs affiliated with both parties engaged in a confrontation at the park.

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

“During the melee, a new Toyota Hilux donated to the Ikire Divisional Police Station was damaged. The windscreen was smashed and the tyres were also damaged.”

Another resident, who also spoke anonymously, said the crisis started when Accord Party members allegedly attempted to wrest control of the park from APC loyalists.

He said, “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.

“After the killing, the Accord members went to the palace of the Akire of Ikire to report that the Divisional Police Officer was involved in the mayhem.

“During the meeting at the palace, the police claimed that the Accord members abducted the Secretary of the Palm Oil Sellers Association in Ikire and that, while pursuing the alleged kidnappers, an exchange of gunfire occurred, during which a stray bullet hit one person.”

Efforts to reach the Osun State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, were unsuccessful.

Calls to his mobile phone went unanswered, while he had yet to respond to text messages sent to him as of the time of filing this report.

Details soon.