The Osun State Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Mayowa Adejoorin, has been arrested over alleged connection to the violent attack on the campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Members of the APC had reportedly come under attack during ther rally in Ilesa area of Osun state on Saturday morning.
They were allegedly attacked by a team of Amotekun operatives led by an Osun lawmaker, Adewale Akerele.
According to reports, Akerele, the Chief Whip of the Osun State House of Assembly, allegedly arrived at the campaign ground in a black Toyota vehicle with registration number OSHA 04, accompanied by five Amotekun security personnel.
It was alleged that firing was subsequently carried out sporadically at the scene, resulting in injuries to three persons.
One of the victims, identified as Tobi Ilesanmi, sustained gunshot wounds to his laps and is currently receiving treatment at Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa.
Two other persons, identified as Wasiu Alanide and Aderemi Adedeji, also sustained injuries to their hand and leg respectively.
Meanwhile, in the wake of the attack, Adejoorin was reportedly arrested by the police.
The Commissioner’s arrest was confirmed during a press briefing held by the spokesperson of the Imole Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi.
The council’s spokesperson expressed concern over what he described as disturbing and increasingly dangerous pattern of arrests, intimidation and incessant abduction of Accord Party leaders and members, particularly across Ijesaland.
Olajengbesi accused the police of abducting the commissioner, stressing that his arrest was politically motivated.
‘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.’ He said.
While also confirming Adejoorin’s arrest, the Osun Police Command’s spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, claimed the commissioner was taken to custody for questioning as part of an ongoing investigation in connection to the attack on the APC campaign.
According to Ojelabi, the police moved to the scene immediately after the incident was reported and cordoned off the area before recovering some exhibits.
“Immediately the incident was reported, our personnel moved to the scene, cordoned off the area before some exhibits were recovered, which included expended cartridges and Amotekun personnel caps,” he said.
The police spokesperson added that Adejoorin was arrested at the scene and taken to the command for questioning in connection with the incident.
