THE Osun State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of the Governor Ademola Adeleke’s Commissioner for Environment, Mayowa Anjorin, and one other person identified as Odeyemi Abimbola, following a shooting incident during a political party procession in Ilesa, Osun State.

The command said the incident occurred when suspected armed men allegedly alighted from a vehicle with registration number OSHA 04 and fired sporadically around the ongoing political procession.

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.

Police statement

The Osun State Police Command spokesperson DSP Abiodun Ojelabi confirmed the incident.

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 exhibit 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

The Imole Campaign Council spokesman, Pelumi Olajengbesi, on Saturday, in Osogbo, said 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 can not 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.