The Police have arrested Osun State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Mayowa Asejoorin, in connection with gunshots fired at the All Progressives Congress, APC, holds rally in Ilesa on Saturday.

Four persons were reportedly injured in the incident.

Reacting, Governor Ademola Adeleke’s campaign team, The Imole Campaign Council, described the arrest as a plot to silence Accord leaders in the state.

On the shooting, it was gathered that the APC supporters, during the rally in Ilesa metropolis, were attacked by some Accord chieftains, during which sporadic gunshots heard.

As a result, people sustained different degrees of injury, including a 14-year-old Ilesanmi.

As at press time, no casualty has been recorded. But the injured victims have been taken to the hospital for treatment.

An eyewitness, Kola Adeoti disclosed that the boy was at his mother’s shop when he was hit by a stray bullet on his thigh.

He added personnel of a security outfit based in the state, who escorted the Accord chieftains shot directly at the APC members which led to protest in Ilesa.

Why we arrested him – Police

Contacted, the Osun State Police Command spokesperson DSP Abiodun Ojelabi confirmed the report.

He said the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Mayowa Asejoorin was arrested in connection with the incident.

“Immediately the incident was reported, our personnel moved to the scene, cordoned off the area before some exhibits were recovered, which included expanded cartridges, Amotekun personnel caps.

“Also, Mr Adejoorin was arrested the scene and has been taken to the command for questioning as part of the investigation process,” he added.

Adeleke’s camp reacts

Reacting, the Imole Campaign Council spokesman, Pelumi Olajengbesi, told newsmen at the Imole Media Centre on Saturday, in Osogbo, that the manner of arrest Is particularly disturbing.

He described the arrest as nothing short of a bandit-line abduction carried out under the cover of police authority.

Olajengbesi called on the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu to reign in Osun Police Command and especially the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gothan.

He added that Accord leaders and members will not be intimidated, and that the will of the people cannot be arrested.

He said, “The latest victim of this alarming pattern is the Honourable Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Hon Mayowa Adejoorin, a prominent native of Ikiyinwa in Obokun Local Government Area of the state.

“The manner of his arrest is particularly disturbing. We consider what happened to Hon Adejoorin nothing short of a bandit-line abduction carried out under the cover of police authority.

“For some time now, we have witnessed a disturbing pattern in which prominent Accord leaders and supporters in Ijesaland are picked up by the Police on allegations that are apparently motivated by sinister political calculations, kept away from their families, communities and campaign activities, and thereby removed from circulation at a critical period of the electoral process.

‘APC desperate’

“The APC is desperate in Ijesaland. And rather than face the people in a free, fair and competitive election, there is a growing concern that these rejected political actors may be seeking to weaken the Accord Party’s structures by removing its leaders from the field.

“We are therefore deeply concerned that these arrests may be connected to an attempt to create an environment conducive to electoral manipulation in Ijesaland ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

“We therefore call directly on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Tunde Disu, to urgently intervene in the situation in Osun State.

“Mr Inspector-General, the buck stops at your table. We call on you to rein in the Osun State Police Command and Mr Gottan in particular and immediately investigate the disturbing pattern of arrests involving Accord leaders, particularly in Ijesaland.

“We demand answers. On what basis was Hon Mayowa Adejoorin arrested? What offence has he committed? What evidence exists against him? Why was his arrest carried out in such a manner? And why does the Police appear increasingly willing to deploy its powers only against Accord political leaders at this critical moment in our democratic process?

“We demand the immediate release of Hon Mayowa Adejoorin, as we believe, there is no lawful and credible basis for his abduction and detention.” (Vanguard)

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