Ilesa Shooting: Osun Commissioner released after nearly 24 hours in Police custody

Osun State Commissioner for Environment, Mayowa Adejoorin, has been released by the Nigeria Police Force after spending nearly 24 hours in custody over a shooting incident in Ilesa.

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

One of the victims was identified as 14-year-old Tobi Ilesanmi, who was reportedly shot near the scene of the incident.

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

The Osun State Police Command had said the shooting was allegedly carried out by suspected Amotekun personnel who were travelling in a vehicle bearing an official Osun State Government number plate.

According to the police spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, the incident occurred while the APC rally was ongoing.

Ojelabi said witnesses reported that a vehicle parked near the rally and that some occupants identified as Amotekun personnel allegedly emerged and opened fire before fleeing the scene.

He said some participants chased after the suspects, with one of those pursued allegedly drawing a knife before escaping.

The police said tactical operatives responding to the incident later intercepted a white Lexus 350 travelling near the scene.

According to Ojelabi, an Amotekun operative and two other occupants were arrested and taken to the police headquarters in Osogbo for questioning.

The police subsequently identified one of the occupants as Adejoorin.

Ojelabi said investigators recovered four expended cartridges from the scene, while a pump-action rifle was also recovered from the arrested Amotekun operative.

The commissioner was detained while police investigated his alleged connection to the incident.

However, Adejoorin has now been released, although the police said investigation into the shooting remains ongoing.

Confirming his release on Sunday, Ojelabi told journalists that the commissioner was released earlier in the day.

“The commissioner has been released. He was released today but the Amotekun that was arrested with him, I can’t confirm his release yet because I am still gathering my facts,” he said.

Meanwhile, the APC Campaign Council for Ilesa West gave a different account of the incident.

Its head, Folarin Fafowora, alleged that the shooting began shortly before the rally was concluded and claimed that armed men emerged from a vehicle and opened fire.

He also alleged that the vehicle was associated with Amotekun personnel who were providing security for the convoy of the Chief Whip of the Osun State House of Assembly, Wale Akerele.

Efforts to obtain Akerele’s response to the allegation were unsuccessful as calls to his telephone line did not go through, while a message sent to him via WhatsApp had not been answered at the time of filing the report.

On its part, the Imole Campaign Council, through its spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, accused APC members of being responsible for the violence.

Olajengbesi alleged that APC members engaged in shooting during the rally and damaged properties belonging to Accord Party members, including the party’s secretariat.

The competing claims have yet to be independently established.

The police said investigations would determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the involvement, if any, of those arrested.

The development comes less than a week before the August 15 Osun State governorship election, amid heightened political tensions across the state.