BREAKING: Ikire Killings — Suspect Names Senator Lere Oyewumi as ‘Boss’ as Police Parade 4 Arrested Thugs
By Our Reporter
Fresh controversy has trailed the deadly violence in Ikire, Osun State, following allegations linking Senator Lere Oyewumi to suspected political thugs arrested in connection with the incident.
The development came as the Osun State Police Command paraded four suspects arrested over the August 24 attack at the Naira and Kobo area of Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area.
The police said the suspects were arrested following credible intelligence and technical analysis, while an AK-47 rifle and a cutlass-like object were recovered from them.
According to the police, about 30 armed hoodlums attacked officers who had responded to a distress call in the area and allegedly snatched an AK-47 rifle from one of the policemen.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Zungura, said one of the hoodlums allegedly used the stolen rifle to shoot sporadically, hitting three policemen and two passers-by, who later died from their injuries.
The four suspects were identified as Sikiru Ademola Adedeji, 21; Olalere Taiwo, 21; Olalere Ademola, 26; and Bankole Abiodun, 20.
During interrogation, the police said preliminary findings indicated that the suspects were political thugs allegedly operating under a faction led by a man identified as Ayewo, who is still at large.
A video circulating on social media has also generated fresh allegations, with one of the suspects reportedly describing Senator Lere Oyewumi, popularly known as Akogun, as their “boss.”
The allegation has, however, not been independently established as proof of the senator’s involvement in the killings.
Oyewumi had earlier been accused by the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress of allegedly coordinating or sponsoring the violence in Ikire. The party subsequently demanded his arrest, an allegation that Oyewumi and his political camp would be entitled to respond to.
The police investigation is expected to determine the identities of those who organised or financed the suspected thugs and establish whether any political figures were directly connected to the violence.
The Ikire violence has intensified political tension in Osun State, with rival political camps trading accusations over the incident.
The police have said investigations are ongoing and that efforts are being made to apprehend other suspects still at large.
Until the investigation is concluded or formal charges are filed, allegations contained in the viral video and statements by political parties remain allegations and should not be treated as established fact.
