Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has ordered a probe into the killing of Accord Party chieftain, Olalekan Ajagungbade, popularly known as Emir, during a clash over the control of a motor park in Ile-Ife.
The governor also directed the state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, to arrest everyone linked to the killing and take immediate steps to restore peace in the affected areas.
Ajagungbade was reportedly killed at Mayfair, Ile-Ife, on Sunday, after he was attacked during a meeting with some drivers at about 1:20pm.
Although the circumstances surrounding the incident remained unclear, a video circulating on social media showed Ajagungbade lying face down inside a vehicle with blood around him.
The killing reportedly triggered further violence between Ajagungbade’s supporters and a rival group, with clashes spreading to other parts of Ile-Ife.
A security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment on the incident, said Ajagungbade and his men came under attack during the meeting.
He said, “At about 1:25pm, we received a distress call that there was chaos around Mayfair, Ife. Ajagungbade, popularly called Emir, was shot at Mayfair motor park.
“We were told that Ajagungbade and his men were fighting with one man identified as Sibi. It was during the fight that Ajagungbade was shot in the head. It was a leadership tussle over the control of the motor park. Police operatives have taken over Mayfair motor park.
“But after escaping from the scene of the fight, the vehicle conveying Sibi and his men was involved in an accident. The car ran into an 18-seater bus along the Ife-Ibadan Expressway.”
Efforts to obtain a response from the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, were unsuccessful. Calls to his mobile phone went unanswered, while messages sent to him had not received a response as of the time of filing the report.
The violence also reportedly heightened tension in Osogbo, the state capital, where gunshots were heard in some areas, prompting residents to stay indoors.
A correspondent monitoring the situation reported hearing gunshots around Isale Osun and Asoje.
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Following the development, Adeleke instructed the police commissioner to identify and arrest those responsible for Ajagungbade’s death while investigating the circumstances that led to the incident.
He further ordered warring groups to immediately vacate motor parks and directed security agencies to restore law and order across the state.
The governor’s directives were contained in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, and obtained in Osogbo on Sunday.
Adeleke attributed the incident to a dispute over leadership of the motor park and announced plans to restore the Park Management System as part of efforts to improve order and discipline at motor parks and garages across Osun.
He said an Executive Order would be issued to establish the new management arrangement.
The governor urged residents to remain calm, assuring them that his administration was committed to restoring peace in the affected parks and communities.
He charged the Commissioner of Police to “Act immediately to arrest all those involved. Law and order must be maintained. There will be no sacred cows as all culprits will be brought to book.”
The statement further read, “We call on members of the public to remain calm. We will ensure restoration of peace in all the affected parks and areas. The security agencies are under instruction to ensure the sustainability of peace at all cost.
“We are reintroducing the Park Management System. I will sovon issue an executive order to give effect to the new management system to manage parks and garages across the state.”