Osun Police Arrest Commissioner Over APC Rally Gunshots as Adeleke’s Camp Alleges Political Plot
Osun Police arrested Environment Commissioner Mayowa Adejoorin after gunshots injured three people at an APC rally in Ilesa. Adeleke’s camp condemned the arrest and demanded answers.
Political tensions in Osun State have intensified after the police arrested the state Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Mayowa Adejoorin, in connection with gunshots fired during an All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally in Ilesa.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday, August 8, 2026, left at least three people injured, including a 14-year-old boy, according to the Osun State Police Command and reports by Nigerian newspapers. The shooting has since triggered a political blame game between the APC and the ruling Accord Party as the state prepares for its governorship election. (Punch Newspapers)
The commissioner was detained after police tactical officers reportedly intercepted a vehicle in which he was travelling shortly after the shooting. He was taken to the Osun State Police Command headquarters in Osogbo for questioning as investigators sought to determine his alleged connection with the incident.
How the Ilesa shooting happened
The shooting occurred while APC supporters were holding a street rally in the Isokun area of Ilesa, Ilesa West Local Government Area.
According to the police account, the rally was underway when participants noticed a vehicle bearing an Osun State Government number plate parked close to the procession. Police spokesman DSP Abiodun Ojelabi said individuals identified as operatives of the state security outfit, Amotekun, allegedly emerged from the vehicle and fired sporadically.
The gunfire reportedly caused panic among the crowd, with people fleeing the area for safety.
Three people were confirmed injured and taken to different hospitals. One of the victims was identified as Tobi Ilesanmi, a 14-year-old boy, who was reportedly struck in the thigh by a stray bullet while near his mother's shop.
Vanguard, however, reported four injured people, indicating that casualty figures were still being clarified as authorities continued their investigation. No death had been reported at the time of the initial reports. (Vanguard News)
Why police arrested the commissioner
Police said the arrest of Adejoorin was linked to the investigation rather than a declaration of guilt.
According to Ojelabi, members of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) were already deployed at different locations in the state when they received information about the shooting.
As officers moved toward the scene, they reportedly encountered a white Lexus 350 travelling away from the area. The vehicle allegedly contained an Amotekun operative and another occupant who was identified as Commissioner Adejoorin.
The occupants were apprehended and taken to police headquarters for questioning.
Police said investigators recovered four expended cartridges from the scene and a pump-action firearm from the Amotekun operative. Other reported exhibits included Amotekun personnel caps.
The authorities said the purpose of questioning Adejoorin was to establish his level of involvement and determine exactly what happened before, during and after the shooting.
The commissioner was subsequently released after spending almost 24 hours in police custody. The police said the Amotekun operative arrested alongside him was still being assessed for release at the time of the latest update.
APC and Accord trade accusations
The shooting has quickly become another flashpoint in Osun's increasingly heated political environment.
The APC campaign team in Ilesa West alleged that individuals associated with Accord politicians were responsible for the attack.
Folarin Fafowora, head of the APC Campaign Council for Ilesa West, said the rally was almost over when the shooting began. He alleged that the violence erupted after a vehicle associated with political figures passed through the area.
He said gunshots suddenly rang out, sending participants running for cover.
According to his account, the attackers allegedly emerged from a vehicle and began shooting, creating confusion and disrupting the rally.
However, the Accord camp rejected the allegations.
Pelumi Olajengbesi, spokesperson for Governor Ademola Adeleke's Imole Campaign Council, alleged that APC members were responsible for the violence.
He claimed that members of the APC were firing shots during the rally and accused them of destroying property belonging to Accord supporters, including the party's secretariat.
Both sides have therefore presented sharply different accounts of what happened, making the police investigation particularly important in establishing responsibility.
Adeleke's camp kicks against arrest
Governor Ademola Adeleke's campaign organisation strongly condemned the arrest of Adejoorin.
The Imole Campaign Council described the manner of the arrest as unacceptable and accused the police of targeting Accord leaders at a politically sensitive time.
Olajengbesi described the arrest as a “bandit-line abduction carried out under the cover of police authority” and called on the Inspector-General of Police, Tunde Disu, to intervene.
The campaign council alleged that other Accord leaders and supporters in Ijesaland had also been arrested in circumstances considered politically motivated.
It argued that such arrests could weaken the party's campaign structure ahead of the August 15 Osun governorship election. (Vanguard News)
The council demanded that police explain the legal basis for Adejoorin's arrest and identify the evidence linking him to the shooting.
Police maintain investigation is ongoing
Despite the political accusations, the police have maintained that the investigation is focused on establishing the facts surrounding the incident.
The recovery of spent cartridges and a firearm means investigators are expected to examine ballistic evidence, witness accounts, video recordings and the movements of those present at the rally.
The police will also have to establish whether the firearm recovered from the Amotekun operative was used during the shooting and whether other weapons were involved.
The involvement of a state commissioner and an Amotekun operative makes the case particularly sensitive because it raises questions about the use of government-linked security personnel during political activities.
Election tensions raise concern
The incident comes only days before Osun voters are scheduled to elect their governor, increasing concerns about political violence.
With the APC challenging Adeleke's Accord Party, both camps have intensified their campaigns across the state.
The shooting has therefore added another layer of tension to an already highly competitive election.
Security agencies will face pressure to ensure that political rallies do not become flashpoints for violence and that voters can participate in the electoral process without intimidation.
Conclusion
The arrest of Osun Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Mayowa Adejoorin, following gunshots at an APC rally in Ilesa has deepened political tensions ahead of the state's governorship election.
While police say the commissioner was detained to determine his possible involvement in the incident, Adeleke's campaign council has accused the authorities of politically targeting Accord leaders.
At least three people were injured, including a 14-year-old boy, while police recovered spent cartridges and a pump-action firearm during their initial response.
Adejoorin has since regained his freedom after nearly 24 hours in detention, but the investigation remains ongoing.
The competing accounts from the APC and Accord camps underline the importance of a transparent investigation. Establishing who fired the shots, why the violence occurred and whether any political or security officials were involved will be crucial to prevent further escalation as Osun approaches its governorship election.