As feared by many, all hell was let loose in Osun State on Monday as former Council Chairmen of the All Progressives Congress, APC, attempted to return to their seats, brandishing a court judgement that they claimed reinstated them.
Both parties have been laying claim to control of the third-tier of government with the APC brandishing last week’s Court of Appeal judgement which reinstated the sacked elected council chairmen and councillors.
On its part, the PDP-administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke has vigorously maintained that the said election had nullified by the Federal High Court in Osogbo.
Tension boiled over and hell broke loose Monday as the reinstated APC Councils Chairmen and councillors moved to take over the secretariats.
In the ensuing violence between the two parties, several people were reported to have been shot dead while many sustained serious injuries at different council areas in the state.
In Ikirun, a former but reinstated Chairman of Irewole Local Government, Osun State, Mr. Remi Abass, was reportedly killed by hoodlums allegedly working for the ruling PDP after taking over the council secretariat in the town.
Bass had, in the early hours of Monday, reportedly led other sacked council officials to take over the secretariats in line with the Court of Appeal’s verdict.
But according to reports, hardly had they entered when hoodlums allegedly working for the PDP reportedly stormed the Secretariat and attempted to dislodge them.
In the process,, it was gathered, there was an exchange of gunshots; and Abass was killed while several others were injured.
Some hoodlums were also reported to have stormed the highway shooting in every direction. There was pandemonium as people fled in different directions. Motorists had to detour to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
Said a source who pleaded anonymity because of the seriousness of the situation: “The thugs came out from the building opposite the Secretariat, wielding gun. They deliberately targeted the council chairman. Many surrounded him and did not allow him to escape from the scene and killed him.”
The state Commissioner for Protocol and Government Affairs, Mr Soji Ajeigbe, claimed that two PDP members, Ege and Igara, were killed by gun-wielding thugs allegedly working for the APC.
“Apart from those killed, six others were killed while they were attempting to take over the secretariat. We have deposited the bodies in the morgue while the injured were receiving treatment at the hospital.”
The Osun State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
