Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has issued a strong condemnation regarding the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old boy in Ilobu. The governor asserted that the incident took place while police were present, suggesting a pattern of police involvement in the region’s political instability. Through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke accused the police of shielding dismissed local government officials associated with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and urged for the immediate detention of the primary suspect, identified as Saheed Tanfeani.
Adeleke criticized the Osun State Police Command for showing clear favoritism toward the APC, claiming that officers frequently assist partisan thugs who terrorize citizens and members of the Accord party. He highlighted that his administration has formally reported these issues of insecurity and political bias to both the Inspector-General of Police and the Presidency. The governor further alleged that police are currently guarding council secretariats to stop elected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) officials from taking office, despite court rulings that removed their APC predecessors.
The governor warned that such misuse of state power endangers public order and undermines the rule of law. He urged authorities to respect constitutional provisions to prevent citizens from seeking their own justice. Meanwhile, the Osun State Police Command confirmed that they have initiated a search for the suspects involved in the shooting of the victim, Ezekiel Olapade, who was killed by a stray bullet near the Irepodun Local Government Secretariat. Police spokesperson SP Abiodun Ojelabi stated that investigators are actively pursuing Saheed, known as Tanfeani, and his associates.
