Gunshots As Hoodlums Attack Interior Minister, Aregbesola In Osogbo

Residents of Osogbo were on Monday thrown into panic following a sporadic gunshots involving some hoodlums suspected to be political thugs and security operatives attached to the former Governor of the state and current Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

The hoodlums attacked Aregbesola’s convoy during a road show he conducted in Osogbo, capital of Osun State.

The gun-wielding hoodlums, suspected to be political thugs, waylaid his convoy and started shooting in a bid to scare away the former governor of the state and members of his entourage.

The Point Correspondent had walked into the convoy of Aregbesola at Orita-Gbaemu area of Osogbo around 5:30pm and sighted the Minister standing on his open roof vehicle and waiving at large crowd of residents who were hailing and jubilating at seeing their former governor.

Aregbesola continued his demonstration amid singing by his followers. Some were screaming “Sheu” as others were waiving brooms. The road show pulled so much crowd that there was traffic snarl along the Gbaemu-Idi-Seke road.

But pandemonium broke when Aregbesola got to Orisunbare market, close to Old-Garage when sounds of gunshots rented the air.

Jubilant residents who were following Aregbesola scampered for safety to escape being hit by stray bullet.

A team of combined security operatives from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Immigration Service and Department of State Security, who were among Aregbesola’s convoy, stepped down from the vehicles and started shooting in a bid to scare away the armed thugs.

For about twenty minutes, Old Garage Area was thrown into panic as traders and road users ran helter-skelter as a result of resounding gunshots from the thugs and security operatives.

Amid this melee, Aregbesola was still standing on his open roof car, apparently unperturbed. The security personnel were able to overpower the suspected thugs who later fled before the Minister’s convoy had its way through the Dugbe/Igbona Area of the state capital.

Aregbesola suffered the attack few hours after he openly declared that the former Secretary to the State Government, Moshood Adeoti, is the next governor of the state.

Meanwhile, Osun State Government has raised the alarm that some misguided coward have invaded the state capital with armed thugs with the sole intention to thwart the peace of the state and creat feat in the mind of the residents.

The state government, though, not mentioned anybody warned those it’s refered to be careful saying there are no sacred cows in the state.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Civil Orientation, Mrs Funke Egbemode, the state government said “No one is above the law here regardless of their past glories or future aspirations.”

“We have credible reports that some misguided cowards have invaded Osogbo, the Osun State capital with armed thugs to foment trouble. These miscreants and their kingpin started shooting as they raced through the town.

“Their interest is simply to attempt to thwart the peace of the state and create fear in the minds of the good people of Osun counting on a long-lost influence.

“The Government of Osun hereby warns that there are no sacred cows in the state. No one is above the law here regardless of their past glories or future aspirations. Security agencies have been well briefed about the activities of these mischief makers, who have set themselves on a collision course with the law.

“Anyone, irrespective of their office or station, caught disrupting the peace of Osun will answer to the law.

“Parents and guardians are advised to warn their children and wards not to allow themselves to be used by evil men to achieve their sinister motives.