Osun Shooting: Police Release Commissioner After 24 Hours in Custody

The Osun State Commissioner for Environment, Mayowa Adejoorin, has been released by the state police command after spending nearly 24 hours in detention over a shooting incident in Ilesa.

Adejoorin was arrested on Saturday after three people were injured during a political rally organised by members of the All Progressives Congress in the Isokun area of Ilesa, Osun State.

The incident occurred as APC supporters were holding a street rally ahead of the August 15 governorship election. A 14-year-old boy, identified as Tobi Ilesanmi, was among those reportedly injured during the shooting.

Following the incident, the police arrested Adejoorin after an Intelligence Response Team intercepted his vehicle while responding to the reported shooting.

According to the police, an Amotekun operative and another person were found inside the commissioner’s vehicle. They were taken to the Osun State Police Command headquarters in Osogbo for questioning as investigators worked to determine their connection to the incident.

The police said a pump-action firearm and four spent cartridges were recovered in connection with the shooting.

The command’s spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, later confirmed on Sunday that Adejoorin had been released after questioning. He, however, said he could not confirm whether the Amotekun operative arrested alongside the commissioner had also been freed.

The shooting has since triggered accusations between the APC and the Accord Party, with both sides giving different accounts of what happened during the rally.

The APC Campaign Council in Ilesa West claimed that the violence began shortly before the rally was due to end. Its chairman, Folarin Fafowora, alleged that gunmen emerged from a vehicle and opened fire, causing people at the rally to flee.

The APC council also linked the incident to the presence of an Amotekun vehicle in the area and alleged that the security personnel accompanying a political figure fired shots during the disturbance.

The Accord Party, however, accused APC supporters of being responsible for the violence. Its campaign spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, alleged that APC members used the rally as an opportunity to attack Accord supporters and damage property belonging to the party.
The Accord campaign also alleged that its secretariat was attacked during the incident.

The police have continued their investigation into the shooting and have not announced a final finding on who was responsible.

The incident comes less than a week before Osun State residents are scheduled to vote in the governorship election, with political parties stepping up their campaigns across the state.

Police authorities have continued to appeal for calm as investigations into the Ilesa shooting proceed.