The Osun State Police Command has announced that further investigations into the shooting of the Chairman of the Park Management System (PMS) in the state, Mr. Iyanda Alowonle, will be handled by the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
The incident, which allegedly occurred while Alowonle was in police custody, has triggered protests and calls for justice across the state.
It was gathered that members of the PMS withdrew their services statewide on Wednesday to protest the alleged shooting of their chairman, leaving many commuters stranded.
According to the Secretary of the PMS, Mukaila Popoola, Alowonle was shot in police custody following his arrest after a complaint was lodged against him.
However, the acting Police Public Relations Officer of the Osun Command, Emmanuel Giwa-Alade, presented a different account, claiming that Alowonle was shot while attempting to escape arrest after being caught with firearms.
Speaking on the issue, Giwa-Alade stated, “The matter has been transferred to Abuja for further investigation. The officer involved will be investigated, and the state government’s claims will also be probed.”
Confirming the group’s statewide protest, Popoola explained that the decision to withdraw commercial vehicles was to express their displeasure over the shooting.
He said, “Help us tell the Osun people that we withdrew our vehicles to protest the shooting of our chairman by the police while he was in their custody. We have told our people to remain law-abiding and avoid engaging in unlawful acts.
“Our chairman is out of danger. He is responding to treatment, and we are hopeful he will recover soon.”
Governor Adeleke Appeals for Calm
In response to the incident, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke called for peace and urged transport workers to refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
A statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, revealed that Adeleke had engaged with the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and emphasized that justice would be served.
“I call on Osun transport workers to maintain peace and not take the law into their own hands,” Adeleke said. “I have acted on this sad incident. I spoke with the police chief and had a closed-door meeting with the Commissioner of Police. Justice will be served.
“We will not allow agents of violence to destroy the peace and stability of our dear state. Do not be provoked to violence. Go about your normal duties while we handle this serious threat to the peace of our state.”
Civil Society Group Demands Investigation
The Concerned Osun Civil Society Groups has also called for a thorough investigation into the activities of the police anti-kidnapping unit and its Officer-in-Charge, SP Moses Lohor. The group’s spokesperson, Stephen Olanrewaju, expressed concerns about alleged human rights abuses by the unit.
Olanrewaju remarked, “We demand the urgent intervention of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, in the thorough investigation of the matter and dispensation of justice to erring officers, especially OC of the anti-kidnapping unit, SP Moses Lohor, whose leadership has been filled with cases of attacks on innocent citizens.”
NURTW Chairman Calls for Justice
In a related development, the Osun State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr. Kazeem Oyewale, commended the police for arresting Alowonle but called for justice for past attacks on union members.
“We also want to use this medium to appeal to the police to fish out the killers of the seven members of our union in November 2022 immediately after the inauguration of Ademola Adeleke as Osun State Governor. The killers of these innocent lives must face the full wrath of the law without further delay,” Oyewale stated.
