Tension in Osun as Accord Party Chairman Survives Assassination Attempt, Police Launch Massive Manhunt

Tension in Osun as Accord Party Chairman Survives Assassination Attempt, Police Launch Massive Manhunt

Political Shockwave Hits Osun as Gunmen Open Fire on Accord Party Leader in Late-Night Attack

A wave of anxiety has swept across Osun State following a brazen late-night attack on the Chairman of the Accord Party, Asimiyu Ajibola, who narrowly escaped death after being shot by unidentified gunmen in Osogbo.

The shocking incident, which has heightened concerns over the growing insecurity in the South-West region, occurred around 11:50 p.m. on Wednesday in the MDS area of Osogbo, the state capital.

According to the Osun State Police Command, two armed men riding on a motorcycle reportedly trailed and opened fire on the politician in what authorities believe was a calculated assassination attempt.

In an official statement released on Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed that security operatives responded swiftly after receiving a distress call about the attack.

“Upon receiving the distress report, the police immediately mobilised tactical and conventional teams to the scene. A team of police officers swiftly evacuated the victim to a medical facility where he is currently receiving treatment,” the statement read.

Ajibola was rushed to the University of Osun Teaching Hospital, where doctors have reportedly stabilised his condition. Medical personnel confirmed that the Accord Party chairman is responding positively to treatment, offering some relief to supporters and political associates who feared the worst.

The Osun State Police Command has launched a comprehensive investigation into the shooting, with detectives working around the clock to uncover those behind the attack.

Security operatives have reportedly recovered several exhibits from the crime scene, which are now undergoing forensic examination as investigators seek vital clues that could lead to the arrest of the suspects.

Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a serious threat to public safety and democratic values.

He directed all relevant investigative units within the command to deploy every available resource toward identifying, apprehending, and prosecuting those responsible.

“The command will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to justice,” Ojelabi stated on behalf of the police commissioner.

Authorities have also appealed to residents to remain calm and law-abiding while providing useful information that may assist security agencies in tracking down the fleeing gunmen.

The attack on Ajibola comes at a time when residents across several South-West states are expressing increasing concern over a series of violent incidents that have shaken the region in recent days.

Just hours before the Osogbo shooting, gunmen reportedly abducted Olaide John-Paul, the younger sister of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, along with her twin sons in Ibadan, Oyo State.

In another disturbing development, the Oyo State Police Command disclosed that armed men attacked the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Passport Office in Ogbomoso, carting away a service rifle, ammunition, and other valuables during the operation.

These incidents have sparked renewed calls for stronger security measures and enhanced intelligence gathering to combat rising criminal activities across the region.

Political observers believe the attack on the Accord Party chairman could trigger widespread reactions from political stakeholders, civil society groups, and citizens concerned about the safety of public office holders and political actors.

While the motive behind the attack remains unclear, many are anxiously awaiting the outcome of the police investigation as questions continue to mount over the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

For now, supporters of the Accord Party chairman are counting themselves fortunate that the attack did not claim another political life, while security agencies face mounting pressure to ensure the perpetrators are swiftly identified and brought to justice