The Police Command in Osun has released the state Commissioner for Environment, Mr Mayowa Anjorin, arrested over alleged shooting at a political procession in Ilesa on Saturday. The spokesperson for the command, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the release on Sunday.
Ojelabi said: “The commissioner has been released. He was released around 1.00 p.m on bail. The Amotekun operative arrested alongside the commissioner and the gun found with him are still with us. However, investigation is still ongoing on the matter.”
According to a statement by Ojelabi, suspected armed men, in a government vehicle, allegedly alighted and fired into the vicinity of an ongoing political procession in Ilesa. He added that the armed men were reportedly dressed as personnel of the Osun State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun Corps. Three persons sustained gunshot injuries during the incident and were taken to the hospital for medical attention.
The arrest and release of a state commissioner just days before a governorship election is a troubling development. The allegation that armed men dressed as Amotekun personnel opened fire on a political procession raises serious questions about the conduct of security forces. The police’s decision to release the commissioner on bail while keeping the Amotekun operative in custody suggests that the investigation is ongoing, but the public will be watching closely.
This echoes the 2018 shooting incidents during election campaigns in Osun, which also raised questions about the conduct of security forces. The mechanism then was different, but the result was the same: a tense political environment ahead of the poll.
The winners: the commissioner, who has been released on bail; and the police, who have demonstrated their commitment to investigating the incident. The losers: the victims of the shooting; and the people of Osun, who are concerned about political violence.
Bottom Line: A commissioner has been released on bail over a political shooting. The election is days away. The question is whether the investigation will be completed before the poll.