No fewer than eight persons were feared gruesomely kìlled on Monday following bid to enforce the Appeal Court judgment reinstating local government executives elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In what looked like coordinated attacks, thugs invaded local government council administrative offices across Osun State to stop the takeover of the offices by reinstated APC chairmen and councillors.
In the ensuing clashes, about eight people were allegedly kìlled while many others were wounded.
The victims cut across members and supporters of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition APC in the state.
Among those said to have lost their lives included the All Progressives Congress (APC) council chairman of Irewole, Remi Abass.
A former aide of Oyetola, Jamiu Olawumi, claimed that councilors of APC were also killed on Monday when they planned resumption.
The development forced the state governor, Senator Adeola Adeleke to shut the council Secretariats to avert further bloodshed.
Adeleke claimed that five members of his camp – apparently referring to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), were kìlled in the chaos and clashes that occurred in the state on Monday.
The Daily Crucible reports that Governor Ademola Adeleke and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, have been at loggerheads over the A’Court verdict.
In the early hours of Monday, APC members stormed local government secretariats across the state to take over with the verdict of the Appeal Court.
At Irewole Local Government in Ikire, APC members had gathered around the secretariat intending to take over, armed hoodlums emerged from an ambush and attacked them.
Abbas, who was part of those reinstated, was killed beside the council, and his corpse was taken to the front of the local government area.
A video showed the deceased council boss in a pool of blood while sympathizers wailed his name.
Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) through the Commissioner for Government Affairs and Protocol, Soji Ajeigbe at Boripe local government claimed that two of their members were shot.
Meanwhile, Governor Ademola Adeleke has directed all residents, including politicians, to stay away from local government secretariat to prevent further bloodshed and protect public assets.
This, he said, is in response to the violent clashes triggered by an alleged illegal takeover attempt by sacked APC chairmen and councillors.
Adeleke stated this in a message he shared on his official X account on Monday evening.
“Following reports of a failed illegal takeover bid of local government councils in Osun by the sacked APC Chairmen and councillors, I hereby direct all Osun residents, including politicians across all political divides, to stay away from the local government secretariats to protect public properties and avoid further bloodshed.
“This has become necessary, especially as the council secretariats are expected to be under lock and key due to the withdrawal of service announced by workers of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) across the state,” he stated.
He expressed sadness over the casualties resulting from the crisis and extended his condolences to the families of those affected.
“I equally condole families of victims of the APC illegal takeover bid and chaos unleashed across the state by the APC and their hired thugs.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost five members, with several others wounded. Two of those members are from Iragbiji, Boripe local government.
“Another two were killed at Ola Oluwa Local Government. Another one was lost at Ikire. We must stop further bloodshed,” his statement further noted.
According to him, in his bid to restore order and ensure safety, he directed security agencies to take full control of all local government secretariats.
“I have directed security agencies to take charge of all local government secretariats, and I hereby assure residents of Osun of their safety and protection of lives and properties,” he affirmed.
