Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has directed an investigation into the alleged attacks in Egbedi town, where seven individuals were reportedly injured in separate incidents.
The traditional ruler of Egbedi, Oba Muideen Azeez, disclosed that the victims sustained injuries in two different attacks, allegedly carried out by individuals from Ede.
“Two of our people suffered machete wounds on Wednesday, while five others were shot on Thursday by armed men,” the monarch stated.
Reacting to the incident, the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, assured residents of Egbedi that their safety remained a priority.
“The attention of His Excellency, Governor Ademola Adeleke, has been drawn to a viral video and reports of attacks on Egbedi. The Commissioner for Local Government Affairs and the Special Adviser on Security Matters have been directed to investigate the matter and restore peace as soon as possible,” Rasheed said in a statement.
Condemning the violence, Governor Adeleke distanced the state government from the incident and cautioned against politicizing the crisis.
“We must not politicize every incident. I have no gun-wielding appointee, and I did not send anyone to instigate a communal crisis. We will uncover the truth,” the governor stated.
A viral video shared on social media by a user identified as Lamina Kamiludeen Omotoyosi reportedly captured the scene of Thursday’s incident.
In the footage, armed men were seen approaching a vehicle parked on the road while unseen individuals shouted curses at them. Moments later, after the men entered the vehicle and drove off, gunshots rang out. The name “Kazeem Oriade,” allegedly an aide to Governor Adeleke, was repeatedly mentioned in the video.
Responding to the allegations, Oriade denied instigating violence, claiming he and his aides were attacked by Egbedi residents while traveling through the town.
“The main road linking Egbedi and Ede was blocked by a truck involved in an accident, so I had to take an alternative route near the palace. As we passed, some youths carrying guns began recording videos of us,” Oriade recounted.
“I instructed my boys to pursue one of them, but we couldn’t catch him. As we left the area, gunshots were fired at us, and my vehicle was riddled with bullets. I was shot at, and some of my aides were also injured. We defended ourselves and managed to seize one of their guns,” he added.
Governor Adeleke has pledged to ensure a thorough investigation into the matter and restore normalcy in the affected community.
