Tension reportedly rose in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Wednesday following an alleged gun attack involving the convoy of ...
Tension reportedly rose in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Wednesday following an alleged gun attack involving the convoy of Governor Ademola Adeleke shortly after his visit to the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji.
The incident reportedly occurred as the governor was leaving the palace after meeting with the traditional ruler.
According to eyewitness accounts, gunshots were heard around the palace area as the governor’s security team moved to protect the governor and other members of the convoy.
Sources in the area said the situation caused residents, traders and other people around the palace to run for safety as the sound of gunfire spread through the area.
An eyewitness claimed that the suspected attackers arrived in a Toyota Sienna and opened fire in the direction of the palace and the governor’s convoy. The account could not immediately be independently verified.
The shooting reportedly continued for several minutes before the governor’s convoy eventually left the area.
Some businesses around the palace were said to have closed temporarily as people moved away from the area because of the security situation.
The incident also reportedly affected movement around the Ita-Olokan axis of Osogbo, with residents becoming apprehensive following the exchange of gunfire.
The Osun State Government, through the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, reportedly confirmed that there was an attack involving the governor’s convoy.
Alimi was quoted as saying that the governor’s security personnel responded to the attackers and successfully protected the governor.
He also reportedly said that the governor was safe and that no casualty had been recorded.
However, further details about the identity of the attackers, their motive and whether any arrests had been made were not immediately available at the time of filing this report.
The incident comes against the background of previous security concerns and politically related violence reported in parts of Osun State in recent months.
Security agencies are expected to investigate the incident and determine what led to the reported attack.
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