Tension reportedly erupted at the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, on Wednesday after suspected hoodlums exchanged gunfire with security personnel attached to the convoy of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke.
The incident occurred shortly after Adeleke received his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and proceeded to the monarch’s palace to celebrate his electoral victory.
Sources at the palace said the suspected hoodlums had allegedly positioned themselves around the area in an unregistered Toyota Sienna before the governor’s arrival.
According to one source, some of the men were involved in a heated argument shortly before gunshots were heard. However, the reason for the confrontation and the person or group allegedly targeted remained unclear.
A nearby shop owner, Laide Misture, said the shooting began shortly after the governor and members of his entourage entered the palace.
“The guys were shooting from inside the main gate while the governor’s security team responded from inside the palace.
“The shooting was intense for almost three minutes before the hoodlums ran away with their vehicle before the governor’s convoy could exit the palace,” the source said.
The incident reportedly caused tension around the palace as security operatives responded to the gunfire.
Osun government confirms shooting
The Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, confirmed that gunshots were fired during the governor’s visit.
Alimi said members of Adeleke’s security team engaged the suspected hoodlums while the governor’s entourage was preparing to leave the palace.
“It is true there were gunshots when we were exiting the palace and the governor’s security team had to go and engage them. But the circumstances that led to the shooting in the first place, we do not know.
“We only heard that there was an altercation between some groups outside the palace, and we don’t know what caused it or which groups were involved,” he added.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting, including the identity of those involved and what triggered the confrontation, remained unclear as of the time of the report.
