Osun political unrest: Six dead as police vow justice

Six people died in Osun State’s political unrest. Police promise justice as tensions rise between APC and PDP over a disputed court ruling

 

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Osun State Police Command has confirmed that six people lost their lives in the political unrest that erupted across the state on Monday.

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Several others were injured and hospitalised as tensions flared between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a statement on Tuesday, the command’s spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, expressed condolences to the victims’ families and assured the public of a thorough investigation.

The Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Abba, has vowed to apprehend the perpetrators and ensure they face the full weight of the law.

“The events of yesterday left six people dead and many others hospitalised. We are deeply saddened by what happened, and various groups have been called for meetings,” Opalola said.

She further urged residents to remain calm and allow security operatives to restore order. “We will not allow anyone to disrupt the peace of our state.

The Inspector General of Police has deployed mobile policemen from outside the state, and they arrived last night. The command will leave no stone unturned in ensuring peace is restored,” she added.

The unrest stems from a political standoff between the APC and PDP. The crisis reportedly began when APC officials, elected in the 15 October 2022 local government elections, attempted to enforce a court ruling allowing them to resume office.

However, this move met strong resistance from PDP supporters, leading to violent clashes.

Among the casualties was Remi Abbas, a former chairman of Irewole Local Government Area, who was elected in the January 2018 local government elections.

Both parties have been trading blame over the violence, further deepening political divisions in the state.

In response to the crisis, the police have ramped up security measures across Osun, deploying additional personnel to prevent further violence.

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Authorities have warned troublemakers to desist, stressing that anyone caught inciting violence will face legal consequences.