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Tension gripped Ilesa, Osun State, on Saturday after gunmen reportedly attacked an All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign rally, leaving several people injured.
The APC supporters had gathered for an early-morning rally around the Oke-Omiru area of Ilesa and were marching towards Isokun when the incident occurred.
A party member, identified simply as Segun, alleged that the supporters were ambushed by hoodlums allegedly led by a lawmaker in the Osun State House of Assembly.
According to him, the attackers initially fired shots into the air to disperse the crowd before allegedly shooting at members of the campaign.
“We were having an early-morning rally today when we were on our way back to our secretariat. We were ambushed by hoodlums led by a lawmaker at the Osun State House of Assembly,” Segun said.
He alleged that the attackers later returned to the area after APC members regrouped to protest the incident.
“We have taken our members to the hospital. A bullet hit a truck driver and some passers-by. One of our members, Tobi, is currently at Wesley Guild Teaching Hospital,” he added.
The Head of Media of the APC Campaign Council, Oluremi Omowaiye, also accused the Accord Party lawmaker, Olawale Akerele, of being behind the attack.
Following the incident, APC members in Ilesa staged a street protest, demanding the arrest of Akerele, who serves as the Chief Whip of the Osun State House of Assembly.
However, Akerele denied involvement in the shooting.
He said he was driving along Isokun Road when he encountered the APC rally and that members of his security team, identified as Amotekun personnel, fired shots into the air to disperse the crowd.
“I was driving along Isokun Road when the APC rally met me. They started shooting into the air, but I had my security, who are Amotekun, inside the car. They shot into the air to scare them. Then we left the place,” he said.
Akerele added that he later reported to the police after being informed by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) that there was an allegation against him.
“I was later called by the DPO that there is an allegation against me that I shot at APC members. I quickly went to the station to honour the invite and state my own side of the story,” he said.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain subject to investigation.
