The Egbedi Community in Osun State on Monday called for a probe into how suspects arrested in connection with the recent shooting of some residents were released by the police.
The community mentioned that the Special Adviser to Osun State Governor on Chieftaincy Matters, Adams Akindere, masterminded the release of the 10 suspects arrested in connection with the incident.
The PUNCH had earlier reported that the Elegbedi of Egbedi, Oba Muideen Azeez, said seven people from his town were injured in two separate attacks allegedly by some people from Ede.
He said two of those injured were inflicted with machete cuts in the first attack, while five others were shot by some people bearing arms in the second incident.
Also, in a video that went viral on social media shared by one Lamina Kamiludeen Omotoyosi, a Facebook user in Osun purportedly recorded at the scene of the attack, some arm-bearing men were seen walking towards a vehicle parked in the middle of the road, while some people that could not be seen were raining curses on them.
After entering their vehicle and leaving the scene, repeated gunshots were heard, as people within the vicinity kept mentioning the name of one Kazeem Oriade, said to be an aide to the Osun State Governor.
But when contacted, Oriade, accused Egbedi residents of launching the first attack on him, while he was travelling through the town to Ede alongside some of his aides.
While giving an update on the matter during a chat with journalists, Baale Sasa, Isa Kolapo, insisted that the attack on the Egbedi Community was led by Oriade.
He also said after the attacks, about 10 suspects were arrested, adding they were however released after Akindere intervened in the matter.
“The recent Ede/Egbedi land dispute crisis in Osun State has taken a disturbing turn, raising concerns about the influence of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
“The arrest and detention of 10 political thugs, allegedly members of a gang led by Oriade Kazeem, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the governor on security matters, who hails from Ede, was expected to lead to consequences for their actions. Notably, most of the arrested members of the gang also hail from Ede.
“However, the Special Adviser to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Local Government and Chieftaincy matters, Mr. Adams Akindere, intervened and secured their release from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Osogbo. This incident is particularly troubling given the violence perpetrated by these thugs during the invasion of Egbedi town, which left many injured and hospitalized.
“The fact that PDP officials are intervening to secure the release of these individuals creates an atmosphere of impunity and undermines the justice system. It is essential that those responsible for these heinous crimes are held accountable,” Kolapo said.
Reacting to the allegations on Monday, Akindere, admitted facilitating bail of the suspects but denied standing surety for Oriade or any criminal.
Akindere further explained that those detained were not hoodlums, as they were those that Elegbedi randomly accused in the presence of the State Police Commissioner in the course of investigation into the incident.
He said, “I am not a criminal. I am from Ede. Those that were alleged are also from Ede. They are my people. Before I was appointed Special Adviser, whenever we have such issue in our community, I will be called upon to assist in securing bail. I must state that I didn’t stand surety for criminals.
“Those that were arrested are not criminals. When I visited the Command, I didn’t stand surety for Oriade. Police didn’t arrest those who were detained. They were invited to the Commissioner of Police’s Office. Elegbedi and others were there. Elegbedi was told to point to those that caused the crises and he started pointing to people randomly.
“From there, they were taken to cell. Being a Special Adviser can’t stop me from serving my people. Those arrested are not criminals. The lawyer standing for those arrested was trying to secure their bail and some conditions were given that must be met by their surety. He was told to bring a level 16 officer or someone serving in government. That was how I came into the picture. Adeleke didn’t send me. I did it for my people.”
