Olalekan Ajagungbade, a political associate of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, has been shot dead at a motor park in Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Ajagungbade, popularly known as Emir among his political associates, was reportedly invited to the motor park for a meeting before he was attacked and shot in the head.
His killing occurred about 24 hours after the Department of State Services (DSS) raised the alarm over an alleged plan by terrorists to attack places of worship and other public gathering points in Osun State.
The DSS had separately met with Muslim leaders and members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Osogbo on Wednesday, where religious leaders were reportedly advised to remain vigilant and take measures to protect their communities.
The security warning was said to have followed intelligence indicating that terrorists were attempting to extend their activities to southern Nigeria, particularly the South-West, with the alleged aim of creating fear and disrupting preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Confirming the DSS meeting, the President of the Osun State Muslim Community, Alhaji Mustapha Olawuyi, said religious leaders were given security advice and urged to remain vigilant.
He said: “The meeting is true; it was held on Wednesday in Osogbo. We need to be careful and vigilant. These people (terrorists) have been trying to infiltrate Osun for quite some time.”
Olawuyi further recalled that the community had previously raised concerns over the influx of unfamiliar persons into the state.
“We had, some time ago, sent back some herders, numbering about 200, who flooded Osun from the Ikirun axis. There were also some individuals who came into the state on motorcycles. They didn’t understand our language and we had to send them back.
“The DSS is doing a very good job in terms of intelligence and alerting the people,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ajagungbade’s killing has heightened concerns over an ongoing struggle for control of commercial motor parks in parts of the state.
The deceased was reportedly involved in efforts to gain influence over some motor parks from Nurudeen Alowonle, the recognised leader of commercial drivers in Osun.
Reacting to the development, Governor Adeleke directed the police and other security agencies to identify and arrest all persons connected with the killing.
The governor also ordered rival groups operating in the motor parks to immediately vacate the facilities, while directing the state government to commence moves to restore the Park Management System (PMS) as part of measures to restore order and control in the parks.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke called for calm and warned that his administration would not tolerate further violence.
“Law and order must be maintained. There will be no sacred cows as all culprits will be brought to book. 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 soon issue an executive order to give effect to the new management system to manage parks and garages across the state,” the governor said.
