ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Political violence escalated in Osun State on Saturday after a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Taofeek Mustapha, was shot by suspected political thugs in Osogbo, while two residents of Ilesa were allegedly abducted by hoodlums said to be loyal to the APC before being rescued by police.
The shooting occurred at Oluode-Aranyin in Osogbo.
A resident of the area, Sola Hammed, said the attackers arrived in an unmarked vehicle and began firing sporadically into the air, forcing residents to flee for safety.
“We all scampered for safety to avoid stray bullets, then we suddenly heard someone crying for help. But we didn’t look back at the moment,” he said.
Narrating his ordeal, Mustapha said he became a target because he was wearing an AMBO-branded cap associated with the APC governorship candidate.
“I was putting on the AMBO-crested cap when the shooting occurred.
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“Everyone ran for safety, and they pursued me because I was wearing the APC candidate cap. When I was shot, I cried for help. Then the attackers retreated back into their vehicle and drove away.
“The thugs used the insignia of Accord Party; three of them came out of the vehicle with guns and started shooting. Then they saw me, and went after me,” he alleged.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, said an investigation had commenced.
Ojelabi also disclosed that two residents of Ilesa who were allegedly kidnapped by suspected political thugs had been rescued.
The victims were reportedly abducted by hoodlums believed to be loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The latest incidents have further heightened political tension in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election, following a series of reported violent attacks and killings in parts of the state.
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Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has directed the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, to embark on a statewide show of strength and raid criminal hideouts to flush out suspected criminals before the governorship election.
Disu, who spoke through the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the South-West, Adegoke Fayoade, gave the directive while addressing stakeholders at a security meeting involving the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political parties, heads of security agencies, religious leaders and members of the media.
He warned that security agencies would not allow criminals to destabilise the state ahead of the poll and cautioned politicians against harbouring suspected criminals.