The Osun State chapter of the Accord Party has alleged that three traditional chiefs in Okinni, Osun State, were shot by suspected political thugs on Saturday night in what it described as a targeted attack on supporters of the party.
In a statement signed by the state Chairman of the Accord Party, Pastor Victor Akande, the party alleged that the attack was carried out by political thugs linked to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and led by an individual identified as "Asiri Eniba."
According to the statement, the gunmen reportedly stormed Okinni at about 9:00 p.m. on Saturday and opened fire indiscriminately, allegedly targeting residents believed to be sympathetic to the Accord Party.
The party said three traditional chiefs sustained gunshot injuries during the attack and are currently receiving treatment at the emergency ward of the Osun State University Teaching Hospital.
The traditional ruler of Papanla in Okinni, Oba Abdulmaruf Ameen, was quoted as confirming the incident after visiting the victims at the hospital. According to the monarch, the attackers invaded the community at night and began shooting sporadically.
The injured victims were also said to have told visitors at the hospital that the attackers arrived in vehicles branded with the "AMBO" campaign insignia.
Accord further claimed that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the area responded promptly to the incident, coordinated the evacuation of the victims, and accompanied them to the hospital for treatment.
The party, however, alleged that the police officer was transferred on Sunday morning to a rural community in Osun West, describing the posting as a punitive measure for assisting the victims.
The management of the Osun State University Teaching Hospital was also said to have confirmed that gunshot victims were receiving treatment at its emergency ward.
As of the time of filing this report, the Osun State Police Command had not issued an official statement on the reported attack or the alleged transfer of the DPO. Likewise, the APC had not responded to the allegations contained in the Accord Party's statement.
