Ilobu Teenager’s Killing: Gov Adeleke campaign council, APC demand justice, peace

The killing of a 14-year-old boy, Ezekiel Olapade, in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State, has triggered fresh concerns over political violence in the state, with both the Imole Campaign Council, TICC, and the All Progressives Congress, APC, condemning the incident and calling for a thorough police investigation.

Both political camps separately appealed for peace and justice, with the death of the teenager now drawing renewed attention to concerns over security and political tensions ahead of the August 15 of the governorship election in the state.

Addressing a world press conference in Osogbo on Monday, the Director-General of TICC, Senator Kamarudeen Olalere Oyewumi, described the teenager’s death as evidence of a dangerous descent into political assassinations capable of undermining peace, security and democratic stability in Osun State.

Oyewumi alleged that the teenager was shot dead on June 21 while attempting to rescue his mother during a violent attack in Ilobu. 

According to him, eyewitnesses linked the attack to a group allegedly led by one Saheed Kareem, popularly known as “Tanfeani”.

“The circumstances surrounding the death of this innocent child are both heartbreaking and infuriating. He was simply trying to rescue his mother, who had fallen while fleeing from sporadic gunshots,” Oyewumi said.

The TICC chief claimed that the Osun State Police Command had identified the alleged leader of the gang responsible for the attack and urged the authorities to take decisive action. 

He also called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Olatunji Disu, to order the arrest and prosecution of all persons connected with the incident.

“We demand a comprehensive investigation into all reported incidents of political violence across Osun State with a view to bringing every perpetrator, sponsor and collaborator to justice, irrespective of status or political affiliation,” he said.

Oyewumi expressed a lack of confidence in the leadership of the Osun State Police Command under Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gottan, calling for his redeployment and an investigation into what he described as repeated failures in tackling political violence.

Reacting to the incident in a separate statement on Monday, the Osun APC also condemned the killing of Olapade, describing it as wicked, inconsiderate and barbaric.

The party, through its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, said the killing of the teenager represented the highest level of wickedness and urged the police to investigate the incident and prosecute anyone found culpable.

“We are strongly calling on the state police command to investigate the callous killing of the teenager with a view to bringing to justice whoever might be directly or remotely connected with the extra-judicial killing of the teenager in Ilobu,” the statement read.

The opposition party commiserated with the family of the deceased and residents of Ilobu, praying for the fortitude to bear what it described as an irreparable loss.

The APC also warned individuals allegedly using political platforms to perpetrate violence to desist from such acts, insisting that violence was not part of the ideology of the party or its governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.

“Our governorship candidate does not believe in violence, and he has never and will never sponsor violence against anyone or group of persons as it is his belief that the political ambition of any individual is not worth the blood of any person,” the party stated.

The APC urged Governor Ademola Adeleke to fulfil his constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property.