Suspected thugs on Wednesday attacked the convoy of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke shortly after his visit to the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, triggering an exchange of gunfire with the governor’s security personnel.
The shooting reportedly lasted between 12 and 15 minutes and occurred shortly after Adeleke left the palace hall where he had met with the monarch.
Adeleke had arrived at the palace at about 3:15pm in a convoy of about 20 vehicles after leaving the Osun State headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Osogbo, where he received his Certificate of Return following his re-election.
An eyewitness who spoke on condition of anonymity said Adeleke and his entourage were received by the monarch, with the governor reportedly presenting his Certificate of Return to the Ataoja.
According to the eyewitness, the incident began as the meeting was ending after the monarch had offered prayers.
She said Adeleke had already left the hall through an exit reserved for the monarch and his wives and was inside his vehicle when heavy gunshots were heard.
“He was already in the bus that brought him and his close aides to the palace when we started hearing heavy gunshots,” she said.
The eyewitness alleged that the attackers arrived in an unregistered Sienna space bus through the Ita Olokan area of Osogbo.
She said the assailants exchanged gunfire with members of the governor’s security team before eventually fleeing the area.
A trader near the palace, identified simply as Munirat, said the attackers may have known about Adeleke’s visit and waited for his arrival.
She alleged that the assailants damaged the palace’s main gate and fired towards the entrance before security personnel pushed them back.
“We all ran away and left our wares. They also engaged the governor near the Osogbo Central Mosque before they fled towards Ita Olokan along the Osogbo-Ilesa Road,” she said.
The incident reportedly caused panic around the palace and surrounding areas, with traders and residents abandoning their businesses and seeking safety as the shooting continued.
The Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, confirmed that the governor’s convoy was attacked.
Alimi described the attackers as hoodlums and said the governor’s security personnel successfully repelled them.
“They are hoodlums, and the governor’s security repelled them. They attacked the governor’s convoy at Ataoja’s palace. No casualty,” he said.
As of about 4:45pm, sporadic gunshots were reportedly still being heard around the area, while several business owners had closed their shops amid fears of further violence.
The incident comes days after Adeleke secured re-election as Osun State governor in the August 15 governorship election.
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