By Ghazali Ibrahim
Gunmen on Wednesday attacked the convoy of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, shortly after he visited the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji in a bid to honor his support during pre-election period.
The attack occurred in Osogbo, the state capital, as the governor and his entourage were leaving the monarch’s palace.
According to an eyewitness, the gunmen arrived in an unregistered Toyota Sienna through the Ita-Olokan area and opened fire on the governor’s security personnel.
The shooting reportedly lasted between 12 and 15 minutes, with security operatives attached to the governor returning fire before the attackers fled the scene.
The Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, confirmed the incident.
“They are hoodlums, and the governor’s security repelled them. They attacked the governor’s convoy at Ataoja’s palace. No casualty,” Alimi said.
The attack came shortly after Adeleke met with the Ataoja of Osogbo to thank the monarch for his support following his recent electoral victory and receipt of his Certificate of Return.
The incident occurred on the same day Adeleke unveiled a N500 million Election Violence Victims Endowment Fund for verified victims and families affected by violence during the electoral process.
The governor also announced that his family, through the Springtime Development Foundation, would provide full scholarships up to university level for children and dependants of people who lost their lives in the violence.
A Verification and Relief Committee, chaired by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Olumide Egbedun, will oversee the identification of victims and distribution of assistance.
Adeleke said the intervention would cover eligible victims regardless of their political affiliation, religion, ethnicity, gender or social status.
“This is not a political intervention. It is a humanitarian responsibility. No eligible victim will be excluded because of political affiliation, religion, ethnicity, gender or social status,” the governor said.
He recalled victims including Ezekiel Olapade, Aderogba Ajayi, Remi Abass and Kolade Eluyera, describing them as citizens whose families deserved support.
The governor said the fund was established in response to the deaths, injuries, destruction of property and loss of livelihoods recorded during the electoral process.
