Tension gripped Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Wednesday evening, as security escorts of Governor Ademola Adeleke engaged some unidentified men in an exchange of gunfire during the governor’s visit to the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo.
The Governor had gone to visit the monarch shortly after receiving his Certificate of Return from the State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The shooting incident, which caused pandemonium in the area, occurred shortly after Adeleke left the palace hall where he had met with the traditional ruler.
According to the residents of Oja Oba, Osogbo, the incident caused panic for over 15 minutes as the gunmen kept shooting sporadically while the governor’s security details returned fire.
Adeleke’s convoy arrived at the palace around 3:20pm, with his supporters to express gratitude to the people of Osogbo for supporting him in Saturday’s election.
A palace source, who declined to be identified, said, “The gunmen came in an unregistered Sienna space bus through the Ita Olokan area of Osogbo. The governor was about to leave the palace and had already boarded the vehicle with his close aides when we started hearing heavy gunshots.”
State Commissioner for Information, Oluoomo Kolapo Alimi and the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Malam Rasheed Olawale, who confirmed the incident, said Governor Adeleke was not affected.
The two government spokespersons linked the incident to a clash between cult groups, saying the governor’s security details only responded to ensure his safety.
