A prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area of Osun State, has been reported dead following an attack by unidentified assailants.
The deceased, Remi Abass, was fatally shot by suspected political thugs who were allegedly obstructing the return of reinstated APC chairmen and councilors to their offices after a court ruling.
The attack took place at the local government secretariat in Ikire during the early hours of Monday.
The violence, reportedly linked to ongoing tensions over local government leadership, also left two other individuals wounded by gunshots in various parts of the state.
According to sources, Abass was killed by hoodlums who stormed the secretariat just as he resumed duties following an Appeal Court decision that reinstated council officials dismissed by the previous administration of Governor Gboyega Oyetola. A local resident was also reportedly killed during the chaos.
In Iragbiji, the headquarters of Boripe Local Government Area, two more people were said to have lost their lives when suspected assailants attacked the local government secretariat. The Commissioner for Government Affairs and Protocol, Hon. Ajeigbe Korede, confirmed the deaths, adding that six other party members sustained injuries from gunfire.
Korede accused certain APC leaders in the region of orchestrating the violence in a bid to seize control of the local government secretariat. He detailed that APC thugs, allegedly led by former local government officials, carried out the shooting with automatic rifles in front of security personnel at the scene.
“The attack occurred at about 5 a.m. today. We were informed that APC thugs, led by Adebayo Adeleke from Iree, arrived with supporters from surrounding areas. Despite the presence of security personnel, the assailants began shooting, resulting in two fatalities,” Korede said.
He also claimed that the attackers are planning to strike again, stating, “We have information that they are regrouping in former Governor Oyetola’s house, preparing for another assault.”
Bayo Adeleke, who was accused of leading the thugs, denied the allegations, insisting he was at multiple radio interviews during the incident. He further claimed that members of the opposition PDP were plotting to assassinate him and others.
Meanwhile, Engr. Remi Omowaiye, Executive Director of Project Implementation at the Federal Housing Authority, narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in Ilesa. Omowaiye claimed that PDP thugs attacked him and his entourage, injuring three of his aides, who are currently receiving medical treatment.
“Had it not been for the quick response of my security team, I could have been killed,” Omowaiye said, emphasizing the need for federal intervention in the escalating violence.
The political violence has raised serious concerns in Osun, with calls for urgent action to prevent further bloodshed.