Police say Amotekun operatives were involved in the shooting as APC and Accord trade accusations over the violence.
At least three people were injured on Saturday when gunshots disrupted an All Progressives Congress (APC) street rally in Ilesa West Local Government Area of Osun State.
One of the victims was identified as 14-year-old Tobi Ilesanmi, who was reportedly shot around the Isokun area of Ilesa.
The incident has triggered a blame game between the APC and the Accord Party, while the Osun State Commissioner for Environment, Mayowa Adejoorin, was arrested by the police for questioning over the incident.
The Osun State Police Command spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the three injured victims were receiving treatment at different hospitals.
Ojelabi alleged that the shooting was carried out by suspected Amotekun Corps operatives who arrived at the rally in a vehicle bearing an official Osun State Government number plate.
He said the operatives allegedly emerged from the vehicle and fired shots sporadically, causing people at the rally to flee.
According to the police spokesperson, one of the suspected operatives was chased by some rally participants but escaped after allegedly pulling out a knife.
Ojelabi said police tactical operatives responding to the incident later intercepted a white Lexus 350 carrying an Amotekun operative and another person.
He said the occupants were taken to the police headquarters in Osogbo for questioning after the second occupant was identified as Commissioner Adejoorin.
Police reportedly recovered four expended cartridges at the scene and a pump-action firearm from the Amotekun operative.
Ojelabi said investigations were ongoing to determine the level of involvement of those arrested.
Meanwhile, the Head of the APC Campaign Council in Ilesa West, Folarin Fafowora, said the rally was almost over when the shooting occurred.
Fafowora alleged that people emerged from a vehicle and opened fire, forcing participants to scramble for safety. He said the incident caused panic around the Isokun roundabout and disrupted the rally.
Efforts to reach the Osun State House of Assembly Chief Whip, Wale Akerele, whose name was mentioned in the APC account of the incident, were unsuccessful as calls to his phone did not go through. A response to a message sent to him via WhatsApp was also being awaited as of the time of filing this report.
However, the spokesperson for the Imole Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, rejected the APC’s account and alleged that members of the APC were responsible for the violence.
Olajengbesi claimed that APC supporters were shooting during the rally and accused them of destroying properties belonging to Accord Party members, including the party’s secretariat.
The competing allegations could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report.
The police said investigations would determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting and establish the identities and roles of those involved.