Calls for Tinubu, Ribadu’s Intervention
- Safiu Kehinde
The Osun State Government has called for the intervention of President Bola Tinubu and his National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, over the fresh outbreak of violence in the state.
The state government demanded an end to the alleged impunity by the police following reported attack on Naval personnel by some suspected police officers at Ile-Ife.
NPO earlier Reported violent attack at the May Fair motor park in the ancient city in the early hours of Sunday.
Suspected armed thugs stormed the motor park, opening fire sporadically.
The thugs were alleged to have been accompanied by some police officers as a video of the attack showed a police operational vehicle which escorted the thugs to the motor park.
In a statement released hours after the attack, the Osun Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, alleged that the police officers spotted at the scene attacked some Navy personnel based in Ile-Ife.
The military personnel had reportedly confronted and arrested five of the armed thugs allegedly sent by the factional chairman of the Osun National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Kazeem Oyewale, popularly known as Asiri Eniba.
Alimi claimed that the personnel were attacked by the police officers following their commandant’s rejection of the Osun Police Commissioner’s request for the release of the arrested suspected thugs.
‘There was a bizarre situation today at Ile Ife when the personnel of the Osun state police command reportedly attacked Navy personnel to rescue the five hoodlums arrested by the Nigerian Navy.
‘It would be recalled that, in an attempt to hijack most parks in Osun state, the Asiri Eniba led thugs were accompanied by a police team to take over the motor parks across Osun state.
‘Today the APC team led by Asiri Eniba stormed Ile Ife, shooting sporadically.
‘The Navy personnel stationed in the ancient town attended to the save our soul message of Mayfair residents and promptly intervened to arrest the hoodlums.
‘It was learnt that immediately, the Commissioner of Police heard about the arrest, he called the Commandant of the Navy to release them to him but the Commandant told the Osun state Commissioner of Police to allow him seek approval from the higher authority before handing them to the police.
‘The Osun CP was reportedly enraged with the Navy Commandant’s reply, he then sent four lorries of mobile police men to attack the Nigerian Navy, with a view to rescue the hoodlums.’ Alimi wrote.
According to the commissioner, the mobile policemen teargassed the Naval men before rescuing the hooligans
However, the police did not succeed in retrieving the five pump action rifles from the Navy.
Alimi called on Tinubu, Ribadu, and the diplomatic communities to intervened over what he described as a bizarre situation as he warned of possible escalation of the incident.
The commissioner demanded the diplomatic communities’ imposition of visa ban on any police officer caught aiding the political violence in the state.
‘This is a bizarre situation and impunity carried too far. Osun state Government is therefore calling on Mr President, who is the father of the Nation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to wade in to Osun matters before it degenerates further.
‘Osun state Government is equally calling on the National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to act before the situation escalates.
‘As we have been crying loud to the whole world especially, the diplomatic Communities, we are also calling on the diplomatic community to impose visa ban on any police official who is aiding and abetting political violence in Osun state.’ Alimi said.